Dayton educator killed in weekend I-75 motorcycle crash

KEY POINTS

  • 3 people have died after a motorcycle crash on I-75
  • One of the victims in the I-75 crash worked for Dayton Public Schools
  • The third victim in the I-75 crash died more than two weeks after the accident

UPDATE @ 2:30 p.m. Sept. 23: A third person who was involved in I-75 motorcycle accident has now passed away. John Strachan, 41, of Dayton, died Monday, according to several reports.

UPDATE @ 9 a.m. Sept. 8:

In the multiple motorcycle crashes on I-75 this weekend, victim Helen Coleman was an Early Literacy Curriculum Specialist at Dayton Public Schools, according to Jill Moberley, spokeswoman for Dayton Public Schools.

UPDATE @ 4:15 p.m.: A second motorcycle rider has died in the Interstate 75 accident involving four vehicles, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Wapakoneta Post.

Kurtis G. Kirby, 46, of Miamisburg, was ejected from his 2006 Harley Davidson. He was taken to Lima Memorial Hospital where he later died, the OSP reported.

The accident also killed 47-year-old Helen Coleman of Dayton, who was struck by a semi after she was ejected from a 2004 Harley Davidson. The driver of that motorcycle was John Strachan, 41, of Dayton. He also suffered serious injury after he was ejected from the motorcycle.

Strachan and two other motorcycle riders were taken to Lima Memorial Hospital after they were ejected from a 1978 Harley Davidson. The driver, Sean R. Bast, 40 of Dayton, and his passenger, 42-year-old Cherelle Lynn Ortberg of Cincinnati suffered serious injuries, according to the OSP.

The driver of the Peterbilt commercial truck, Scott Lange, 38, of Romulus, Michigan, was not injured.

Agencies assisting at the scene were the Cridersville Fire/EMS; Cridersville Police Department; Uniopolis Fire/EMS; Wapakoneta Fire/EMS; Auglaize County Sheriff's Office; and Fort Shawnee Police Department.

UPDATE @ 2 p.m.: The Auglaize County Coroner identified the deceased victim as 47-year-old Helen M. Coleman, of Dayton.

Coleman was a passenger on a 2004 Harley Davidson that was headed north on I-75 along with approximately 20 other motorcycles, according to OSP Wapakoneta Post.

For an unknown reason, several of the motorcycles lost control about two miles south of Cridersville, according to OSP.

Coleman and the 41-year-old male driver of the motorcycle were ejected and Coleman was struck by a tractor-trailer traveling in the right lane, according to OSP.

Coleman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The male driver, and riders on two other motorcycles who were also ejected, were taken to Lima Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Their identities were not released and their conditions were unavailable.

The semi driver from Michigan was not hurt.

The crash remains under investigation.

UPDATE @ 10:19 a.m.: According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Wapakoneta Post, those injured were all taken to Lima Memorial Health System. One person was taken to the hospital by Careflight.

It is unknown exactly how many people were taken to the hospital.

Around 9:00 Friday night, units were dispatched to the area of Cridersville and Interstate 75 North on a report of an accident involving a semi and several motorcycles, explained Wapakoneta OSP. Shortly after crews arrived on scene, they reportedly shut down both north and south bound lanes of I-75 until approximately 11:55 p.m.

Mike Lawson of Wapakoneta said he and his wife were headed home from Lima in the southbound lanes when they passed the crash scene.

He said there appeared to be 10 to 12 motorcycles, two passenger cars and a semi involved in the crash.

"We saw numerous state patrol (vehicles), ambulances, and fire trucks," Lawson said.

UPDATE at midnight: The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Cridersville are now open after a crash on Friday.

UPDATE @ 10:45 p.m.: The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Cridersville are shut down after a crash involving several motorcycles and a semi, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The accident was reported around 9 p.m. at mile marker 116 of I-75.

Mike Lawson of Wapakoneta said he and his wife were headed home from Lima in the southbound lanes when they traveled by the crash scene.

He said there were 10 to 12 motorcycles, two passenger cars and a semi involved in the crash.

"We saw numerous state patrol, ambulances, fire trucks," he said.

Lawson said troopers were diverting the northbound highway traffic at Botkins.

We will update this report as we get more information.

FIRST REPORT

Interstate 75 is shut down in both directions tonight after a crash involving a semi, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The crash on I-75 was reported sometime after 9 p.m. at mile marker 116 in the Cridersville area.

Multiple vehicles are reportedly involved.

We will update this report as we get details.

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