5-year-old girl dies following crash

No charges have been filed but information is going to prosecutors.

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By Andrea Chaffin Updated 6:26 PM Wednesday, August 17, 2011

BETHEL TWP. — A 5-year-old girl has died at Children’s Medical Center in Dayton after suffering severe head injuries in a crash on West National Road on Monday.

The child, Lauren Drummond, was riding in a Honda Odyssey when a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Hannah Gough, 22, of Medway, rear-ended the minivan in the 4500 block of West National Road near Gordon Road, according to a news release from the Springfield post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Driver Jaye Drummond, 35, of 443 Willow Road in Springfield, his wife, Kelly Drummond, 41, a 3-year-old boy, Matthew Drummond, and two dogs were also riding in the minivan. The adults and the child were taken to Children’s Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries by Springfield Twp. medics, according to the release. Gough refused treatment at the scene, OSP said.

The vehicles were traveling east on West National Road when Drummond reportedly stopped for a deer crossing in the roadway.

Sgt. Yvonne Thorne said “it is unclear why the Jeep did not slow down, and that there are no indiciation of brakes being used.”

Drummond said Lauren was a vibrant, curious, friendly and outgoing girl who had a fascination with animals, music, dance and France.

“She wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower,” Jaye Drummond said.

The family was preparing to move to Chicago, and Lauren was going to start kindergarten in three weeks, he said.

“We finally convinced her it would be a good place to be,” he said.

She was known for her inquisitive nature, leadership ability, love of drawing and coloring and “the best 'squeeze-hugs' that made you fall over.”

Two of the family’s dogs were in the vehicle during the accident. One died and will be cremated and buried with Lauren, Jaye Drummond said.

“She loved animals,” he continued. “She told me she wanted to be a 'pet-taker-carer-of.' She loved them more than anything and we loved her more than anything.”

No charges have been filed, but the information is being presented to prosecutors, said Sgt. Bryan Cook of the state patrol.

Contact this reporter at achaffin@coxohio.com

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