Patrol: Man Planned Own Death On Roadway
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio—A 24-year-old Waverly man was killed early Sunday after a car ran over him while he was lying in the northbound lane of state Route 104 in Pike County.
The victim was identified as Branden D. Benner. Investigators said witnesses indicated Benner stated he was going to kill himself moments prior to the incident.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 19-year-old from Piketon struck Benner while he was attempting to pass a southbound vehicle on S.R. 104.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail
.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
this is so very tragic and i can think of little else this past week..especially about Branden and what went so terribly wrong and whether intentional or not. i did not know him at all but have had so many whatifs running through my mind…as jkss suggested…so i hope those who judge his actions as suicidal realize that we will never truly know..
I knew Branden.. and he was such a good spirited person.. He will be sadly missed and live on forever in our thoughts.. Brenda, Paula.. everyone.. ur in my heart and my prayers.. Rest in Peace Branden Benner
I pray for all involved. This is an example why alcohol is such a terrible substance. Impairing judgement and causing heartache. And in no means am I attacking your comment Marybeth6 but when someone wants to commit suicide the whole point is to hurt people due to thier state of depression, and if they succeed in thier plans, innocent individuals will end up hurt. And it is possible to deter an individual from suicide, I am an example myself.
I am sorry for all of you who have known Brandon for ever. However, if you want to commit suicide that is your business, DO NOT involve an innocent bystander who will now for the rest of their lives have to relive this incident over and over in their minds. Sad, but you can not change the mind of someone wanting to end their lives. But if you want to do it do it by yourself!
Ok, have to get something off my chest. I have known brandon since we were 6yrs old and he was like a brother to me. I saw him every weekend and I know more about what was probably going through his head than most people. I talked to him 2 hours prior and he was getting ready to go to sleep. His girlfriend got upset and left according to witnesses. He called and told her that he was going to kill himself if she didnt come back so she was on her way back. He waited till she was almost there and called her to tell her he she was going to hear his last words. He layed in the north bound lane watching for her to drive up and get freaked out. It was surely a dumb thing to do and well induced by alcohol but this man would hesitate when jumping from a rope swing into the creek. In my mind he was trying to induce panic and had no idea he was really going to die. That road is a really long straight stretch and it didnt even accur to him that a car would be comming from the other direction, he would have moved if he thought he was really going to be hit. He was more than likely looking down the way in which traffic was expected to be comming from. If he had planned to be hit by the passing car, how would he of had time to call his gf and tell her about it. It was very stupid indeed but not suicide. At the most, attempt to induce panic that backfired. I also feel sorry for the driver but everything happens for a reason, It was just his time to go I guess. Ive had other friends say they were going to kill themselves to scare their girlfriends during an arguement and the have done stupid stuff like this but in the end they were really not going to do it. Its like telling someone you’re going to hang yourself, and putting the rope around your neck waiting for someone to react, then the leg of the chair breaks. People shouldnt do stuff like this, accidents can happen…. Rest in Peace Brandon
I knew Branden, and i am best friends with his girlfriend. I had just talked to him a couple of hours before this tragic event happened. He sounded fine, he was nice as always which was nothing new with him, because he was always such a sweet person. I just don’t understand what could have been going through his head to make him do such a horrible thing. I don’t think he had any idea the pain and suffering he was going to bear upon everyone. I’m the one who had to see what it did to his mom, and his girlfriend, and everyone else in his family, the pain he caused to that poor 19 year old boy, who was only going out for something to eat, the person who witnessed it, i just wish he knew what this did to everyone. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
That poor kid….what a tramatic experience….my prayers are with everyone invoved.
As a survivor of suicide my heart goes out to the family,I know exactly how they feel. I only have one thing to say. A person who cries “I’m going to kill myself” needs someone to talk reason to them because they don’t really want to do this. Someone who really wants to die,will not say a word they just do it. I’m truely sorry for the relatives’ loss but everyone will ask that one stupid question, WHY? This question will never be answered because the person who does this is the only one who knows the answer. I’m so sorry for your loss.
lakewhitegal, thank you for helping those involved. I`m so sorry you had to witness such a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers will be with you as well as anyone else touched by this tragedy including the law/rescue crews that were at the scene.
I was driving the car that was passed refered to in the article. I had just gone from a 35mph zone into a 45 but thought i saw a glimmer of something ahead in the darkness so I kept my speed. The young man who passed did nothing wrong as he didn’t have to speed to pass, and it was in a clearly marked passing zone. It was a nightmare to see that man stretched out in the road with his hands behind his neck, and it was too late.
The young driver pulled over immediately, as did I. First a man and then a woman came out of the trailer next to the road..to find their friend on the road. I tried to call 911 from my cell, but couldn’t get it to go through so I drove home, just around the bend and called the police. I returned to find police vehicles arriving. The young driver of the car was definitely not drinking, but had merely driven to town to get something to eat. He was terribly upset but couldn’t get his family on the phone, so I drove to their house and they came right away.
I didnt know Branden but am told he was a very sweet and kind young man, but obviously troubled. This is so horribly tragic for all. Prayers and warm thoughts for all involved
Advertisement