3 motorcyclists killed in separate crashes
Authorities are investigating the deaths of three motorcyclists in separate crashes in Franklin County that occured within nine hours Thursday.
The last crash occurred about 4 p.m. at Brown and Frank Roads in Franklin Township when a male motorcyclist collided with a pickup truck, the Franklin County sheriff’s office said.
Michael K. Bruce, 42, of Columbus, was driving a 1982 Honda Goldwing touring motorcycle east on Frank Road when he collided with the passenger side of a westbound 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck, a sheriff’s news release said. Ronald L. Sparks, 76, of Grove City, the driver of the pickup, was trying to turn left to southbound Brown Road when the crash occurred, the release said.
Bruce, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Mount Carmel West hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the release said. Sparks, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured.
About 1:45 p.m., Columbus police were called to the scene of a fatal crash on the North Side involving a motorcycle and an SUV.
The motorcylist was killed in the crash near the intersection of Morse and Sinclair Roads. No other details were available from the Columbus police Accident Investigation Unit.
The first fatal crash of the day occurred at 7:33 a.m. on Interstate 270 south at the exit to westbound Interstate 670.
Daniel Jones-Quartey, 27, of Columbus, driving a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R600 sport motorcycle, switched lanes and struck the rear of a Honda CR-V driven by 28-year-old Austin Walsh, of Westerville, a Franklin County sheriff’s office release said.
Jones-Quartey, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. Walsh, the CR-V’s only occupant, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
The crash closed the southbound lanes of I-270 from Route 161 to I-670 for more than four hours, creating a massive morning commute traffic jam. Police rerouted traffic to the northbound lanes of I-270 in an effort to ease the congestion.
The sunny, clear day on Thursday was the first dry day in several, and the good weather likely brought more motorcyclists onto the road, traffic safety experts say.
As the official start of summer arrives next Thursday, June 21, other motorists need to be more aware of the increased motorcycle traffic, the Ohio State Highway Patrol The remains of a Honda Goldwing motorcycle sit in the intersection at Brown and Frank roads in Franklin Township. It’s driver, Michael K. Bruce, 42, of Columbus, died in the crash Thursday afternoon. says, especially at intersections and when changing lanes. Give motorcyclists plenty of space and don’t follow too closely, the patrol recommends.
Motorcycle deaths in Ohio increased from 133 in 2013 to 200 in 2016 before declining slightly to 157 last year. The patrol says 71 percent of the 157 motorcyclists killed last year were not wearing helmets.
Though the patrol says helmets are the best way to prevent deaths and injuries, Ohio law does not require motorcyclists 18 and older to wear a helmet.