NEWS RELEASE

On Friday June 17th, 2016 at 3:20 p.m., the Piketon Police Department was dispatched to the
area of 400 River Road in reference to a vehicle vs train with possible entrapment. Chief Mike
Blair and Sgt. Chris Mosley responded along with Piketon 400 Fire Department, Waverly 200
Fire Department, Station One, Squad 3, Squad 5 and Portsmouth Ambulance. Upon arrival, Sgt.
Mosley located a 2001 black Ford Ranger along the East side of the railroad tracks. Two female
adults and a female juvenile were trapped in the vehicle. The train was a north bound Norfolk
and Southern railway freight loaded with 81 cars of coal. Investigators and Railroad Police from
Norfolk and Southern also responded to assist.
Chief Blair requested the assistance of the Waverly Police Department where Chief Roe and
other Waverly Units assisted in blocking the North bound traffic on US RT 23 and River Rd to
land Air Evac 97. Sheriff Charles Reader arrived along with Deputies from the Pike County
Sheriffs Office as well as several units from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Piketon 400 Fire
Department, Pike County EMS, along with Portsmouth Ambulance assisted in the treatment
and removal of the victims.
The driver, identified as 40 year old Cassandra Dee Blankenship of 18 Cales Lane Waverly was
medevacd to OSU Hospital in Columbus, Ohio where she is listed in stable condition.
Blankenships 3 year old daughter, Breea Shaay Holschuh was transported by Squad 1 to Adena
Pike Hospital where she was later pronounced dead from the injuries sustained in the crash.
Passenger, 67 year old Brenda S. Hanshaw also of 18 Cales Lane, Waverly was pronounced dead
at the scene by Pike County Coroner, Dave Kessler.
The investigation into the crash is still pending by the Ohio State Highway Patrol working in
conjunction with the Piketon Police Department and the Pike County Sheriffs Office.