BORDERLAND

Autopsy shows driver drowned in creek crash

2/24/2014

An Eastern Michigan University student whose car crashed and ended up in Otter Creek died within seconds, an autopsy performed Monday showed.

Bianca Bepler, 20,of Beavercreek, Ohio, drowned, said Dr. Maneesha Pandey, Lucas County deputy coroner. She said Ms. Bepler did not suffer other significant injuries that would have contributed to her death.

Oregon police said on Sunday that Ms. Bepler apparently lost control of her vehicle at Millard Avenue and Otter Creek Road and went over an embankment into the creek. Dr. Pandey said she did not know how long Ms. Bepler’s car was in the water before being spotted by a bicyclist at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Police said they expect more information after Ohio Highway Patrol troopers analyze the vehicle’s data recorder that will have information about the speed of the vehicle and if Ms. Bepler was pushing the gas or brake pedal.