Two dead in weekend East Side crashes
Columbus police are investigating two separate fatal crashes on the East Side over the weekend.
On Saturday morning, officers were called to East Broad Street in the area of Cardinal Park Drive just west of Interstate 270 on a report of a man lying in the road.
The police Accident Investigation Unit determined the man, who had not yet been identified by police at midday Monday, was riding a bicycle in the right lane of East Broad Street, headed east, when he was struck from behind by a vehicle.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 7:40 a.m. Saturday.
The driver did not stay at the scene. However, investigators have determined a possible driver and vehicle of interest. The vehicle has been impounded to be analyzed as possible evidence, police said.
On Sunday, officers were called again to the city’s East Side on a report of another serious crash, this one involving a motorcylist.
Around 5:40 p.m., police said 36year-old Patrick Young, of the East Side, was driving a 2016 Suzuki GSX motorcycle east on East Livingston Avenue.
Police said a 2016 Hyundai Veloster driven by 26-year-old Kristen Wright, of the Far East Side was attempting to turn left from westbound East Livingston Avenue onto Bairsford Drive.
Wright struck Young’s motorcycle, ejecting him into the intersection, police said.
Young was transported in critical condition to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where he died at 8:17 p.m. Sunday.
The crash remains under investigation.
The deaths are the fourth and fifth traffic fatalities in Columbus in 2021. The first three deaths were all pedestrians killed in hit-skip crashes. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner