Piqua man found dead in vehicle, apparent suicide

Hit three parked cars, two utility poles after shooting himself

A man found dead in a red minivan Thursday night is believed to have shot himself to death after he hit four parked vehicles and sent one of them into a telephone pole, which hit a house.

Police were dispatched at about 7:30 p.m. on a report of multiple accidents on Wood Street, Piqua Deputy Chief Marty Grove told News Center 7. The van was found a block south on Young Street, where it had hit a telephone or utility pole.

“It appears that after he struck the pole, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Grove said. A gun was recovered.

“We don’t know where he was going or where he was coming from,” the officer said.

The man has been identified as Phillip M. Roll, 32, of Piqua.

Minor damage was done to the house, police said, and apparently no one in it was injured.

“It’s kind of shocking. This is a quiet neighborhood and not many people would think something like this would occur,” Grove said.

“We’re thankful with the amount of damage…there were no other injuries.”