The Ohio Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation has determined Jonathan Kroninger, 21, of Massie Township, was driving at the time of the fatal crash on November 21 in rural Warren County.

Kroninger, 21, of Massie Twp., Benjamin Edwards, 26, of Oregonia, Brittany Gerondale, 26, of Morrow, and Rose Feltner, 22, of New Vienna, were pronounced dead at the scene dead after the northbound 1995 Ford F-250 truck they were in went off the west side of Harveysburg Road in Massie Twp., near I-71 and Caesar Creek Lake.

While awaiting DNA evidence results, troopers released results of the initial crash report and accident reconstruction Wednesday.

All four victims were thrown from the truck, owned by Edwards, apparently in pairs about 75 feet apart, according to investigators. The truck left a trail of evidence, including beer cans and a floor mat found in a tree.

The car apparently initially lost control in a curve just south of the crash site and went off the road in the farm yard. The road, near Interstate 71, was blocked for about six hours at both ends while emergency crews worked.

On Wednesday, Sgt. Charlie Scales, the accident reconstruction expert on the case, said evidence, including clothing samples, pinpointing where they struck the interior of the truck and were ejected was used in reaching the preliminary result.

“Rollover crashes are probably the most difficult to determine,” Scales said.

Investigation continues, while investigators await DNA tests and toxicology results indicating whether drinking contributed to the crash.

The victims had just left a nearby party where Kroninger lived. At least some of victims had been drinking and playing cards, according to witnesses.

“Alcohol is suspected,” Sgt. Charles O’Bryon said.

Kroninger also was driving “well in excess of the speed limit,” Scales said, while still developing calculations of the actual speed.

The fatalities, on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, brought to 13 the number of area traffic deaths in recent weeks.