First Posted: 3/30/2015
DUPONT — Officials said alcohol was a factor in a fatal single-vehicle crash over the weekend.
A passerby who was traveling along state Route 634 at about 8 a.m. Saturday noticed a vehicle submerged in the Auglaize River, just north of state Route 114 and called the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said Sgt. Matthew Schmenk with the Lima post.
The vehicle was driven by Brett M. Varner, 34, of Ottawa, at about 11:45 p.m. the night before. He was pronounced dead by the Putnam County coroner at the scene.
Varner was an employee of Kalida Manufacturing in Kalida and a Marine veteran, according to his obituary. He leaves behind multiple family members, including a daughter.
Varner was traveling south on Route 634 at an unsafe speed when he approached a curve in the road, said Schmenk. Varner traveled off the left side of the road and struck a small ditch, traveled airborne for about 70 feet and landed in a field.
Still traveling down a small hill, he again went airborne for about 120 feet, Schmenk said, he was not wearing his seat belt.
Varner’s vehicle traveled over the Auglaize River, struck the embankment and became submerged in the river.
It is unclear whether he died from the crash or from drowning, the Lima post said.
To create a timeline of events Friday evening, the Lima post interviewed people who were staying with Varner at his residence, who told officers that Varner was with another friend.
The friend was determined to be the last person who saw him alive, officials at the Lima post said. The route Varner took would have been the way he would have typically taken home.
