OFF THE WIRE
NASHPORT -- A 20-year-old Zanesville woman is dead and a man seriously injured after their motorcycle passed several vehicles on Ohio 60 before colliding with a truck near the Muskingum County Speedway Monday afternoon, state troopers and witnesses said.
Luka Smith, 20, of Mutton Ridge Road, and Zachary Tigner, 20, of Coopermill Road, were ejected from the Suzuki motorcycle. Smith died from her injuries and Tigner was taken to Ohio State University Medical Center with serious injuries, Ohio Highway Patrol trooper Jeff Fowler said.
Neither Smith nor Tigner were wearing helmets, Fowler said.
Tigner was listed in stable condition Monday evening, according to a hospital nurse. There was no information about the extent of his injuries.
Tigner and Smith, who were headed northbound on Ohio 60, were attempting to pass a Nissan truck driven by Mark Neal, 43, of Coburn Drive, when the crash occurred.
Neal and two juvenile passengers were not injured.
Neal told troopers he was preparing to turn around in a private drive at the southend of the speedway property. He had his turn signal on, but Tigner still attempted to pass him in the left (southbound) lane, Fowler said.
"As soon as he (Neal) was making the turn, he was struck," Fowler said. "From what the other witnesses said, it's possible multiple vehicles were passed by the motorcycle."
Neal declined to comment.
Debris from the motorcycle was strewn about the road and Speedway property. The truck, which was pulling a trailer with two ATVs, suffered damage to its front grill and bumper, most noticeably on the front left corner where the collision occurred.
Falls Township Fire Chief J.D. Johnson said the department was toned out at 12:55 p.m. to 7985 Frazeysburg Road. Rescue squad members found two patients, Smith and Tigner, in the yard. It then was determined the woman was deceased and rescuers called for MedFlight to attend to the male victim.
Fowler said the patrol was toned out at 1:07 p.m.
Jeff Lewis, of Nashport, said he and a friend heard the fire trucks on Ohio 60 and drove up the road to investigate, coming upon the crash scene.
"We knew it had to be close. The motorcycle was smashed up, the girl is on the ground and the guy is in the helicopter," Lewis said as state troopers arrived.
Fowler said Tigner was driving with a suspended license and the license plate tag on the motorcycle was expired. It's possible Tigner could be charged, but that will be up to the prosecutor's office after the crash investigation report is filed, he said.
Ohio 60 was closed from McGlade School Road to New Riley Road for about three hours during the crash investigation, reopening about 4 p.m.