AKRON, Ohio — One person has died and another was seriously injured following a pair of unrelated crashes that happened just hours apart in Akron on Wednesday.
Here’s a timeline of the incidents from Akron police:
2:40 p.m. in the 1500 block of Triplett Boulevard
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a motorcycle had crashed with the 36-year-old driver unresponsive on the ground.
The man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
“Based on preliminary indications, the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Triplett, possibly hitting a layer of oil on the road, and lost control of his motorcycle,” Akron police said in a press release.
The crash remains under investigation.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Akron police originally reported that the motorcyclist had died, however, he is alive and sustained serious injuries.
7:08 p.m. on I-76 West near Gilchrist Road
Akron police say this deadly crash occurred when the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado changed lanes and struck the front left side of a Volkswagen Passat.
“The impact caused the Chevy to lose control, rotate approximately 90 degrees, leave the highway’s north side, and roll down the embankment,” according to Akron police.
The Chevy’s driver – identified as a 39-year-old man – was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
The 52-year-old man who was driving the Passat maintained control of his vehicle and stopped on the shoulder area of the highway, according to police. He was uninjured.
“It is unknown if speed was a contributing factor,” Akron police said. “Traffic investigators do not believe alcohol played a role in the circumstances leading up to the crash.”
