Investigators said Sunday they are still working to find out how the crash happened and exactly how many motorcycles and people were involved in the crash. It is believed as many as half of those involved in the crash fled the scene - some who suffered injuries - before crews responded.
Sept. 27:
UPDATE @ 5:25 p.m.
Four bikers were critically injured Saturday afternoon during a charity motorcycle ride.
There were about 12 motorcycles involved, with seven people hospitalized in the crash that happened in the 8600 block of Cincinnati-Brookville Road in rural Butler County. Five medical helicopters responded to the scene.
Rella Brennan, 59, of West Harrison, Indiana, was in front of the pack of motorcycles that wrecked.
"The people behind us got jammed up on that hill and the bikes just got airborne," she said. "They had nowhere to go."
In the area of the accident, Cincinnati-Brookville Road is winding, and has a posted speed limit of 30 mph.
There were about 200 bikers on an annual charity ride sponsored by the Southern Ohio Bikers. The ride started around 12:45 p.m. in Brookville, Indiana.
"It was a beautiful, beautiful ride," Brennan said.
"We were riding on these kinds of roads these whole day," she said. "And everything kind of happened so fast."
This was Brennan's first time on the ride, but said her friend has participated the last couple of years.
Butler County Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Lambert said more people were believed to be involved in the crash but left before emergency crews arrived - with some of those riders possibly suffering from injuries.
The fact that people left the scene leads Lambert to speculate that alcohol may have played a role in the collision.
"It's odd that we have people leaving the scene," Lambert said.
UPDATE @ 4:52 p.m.:
Five medical helicopters responded to a motorcycle crash that happened during a benefit ride.
At least 12 motorcycles were believed to be involved in the accident that injured seven people in a stretch of road in the 6800 block of Cincinnati-Brookville Road, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
Five people were flown to area hospitals, with four of the seven people hurt believed to have suffered critical injuries, according to authorities.
Some of the riders were wearing Southern Ohio Bikers gear, and a couple hundred motorcycles were riding around the area, according to deputies. The Southern Ohio Bikers were presenting the sixth annual Ayden and Faith Benefit Run for children with a medical condition, but it's not confirmed the riders involved were participating in the charity event.
At 4:45 p.m., four to five motorcycles remained on scene, and all medical transports have been completed.
The names, ages and conditions of those involved in the crash have not been released.
The accident remains under investigation.
UPDATE @ 3:46 p.m.: Five people suffered critical injuries in a motorcycle crash involving 12 motorcycles and seven injuries.
The rest of the people hurt in the crash suffered minor injuries, according to reports.
UPDATE @ 3:34 p.m.: A total of four medical helicopters were called to a motorcycle crash with multiple injuries.
Three AirCare helicopters from University Hospital in Cincinnati and one from CareFlight of Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton are called.
FIRST REPORT
Three medical helicopters have been called to a motorcycle collision this afternoon involving at least seven motorcycles.
A dozen people were reportedly hurt, some seriously in the accident that occurred in the 6800 block of Cincinnati-Brookville Road.
Crews from Morgan Twp., Reily Twp., Ross Twp., Oxford and Fairfield have been called to the scene.
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