3 motorcyclists killed in separate crashes

ajc.com

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Three men were killed Sunday in separate single-vehicle motorcycle crashes.

The first crash happened around 1:45 a.m. at North Main Street and Marathon Avenue in Dayton, according to a Dayton Police Department crash report.

The crash victim was identified Monday afternoon as 45-year-old Dennis D. Best of Trotwood by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Best was operating a 2009 Can-Am Spyder in the 1800 block of North Main street at an “apparent excessive rate of speed” when he lost control at Santa Clara Avenue. The motorcycle struck a curb, went onto the sidewalk and hit a sign in front of the Marathon gas station, according to the report.

Best was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The second crash, which happened Sunday afternoon in Butler Twp., killed a 64-year-old Dayton man.

Sammy E. Ashburn was operating a 1993 Kawasaki Voyager II west on Interstate 70 to the on-ramp to southbound I-75 around 4:25 p.m. when he apparently lost control, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail, according to the Dayton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Ashburn was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries as a result of the crash.

A third motorcyclist was killed in a crash Sunday in Bethel Twp. in Miami County.

A resident of the 9500 block of Sullivan Road found a motorcyclist unconscious shortly after 3 p.m. after the 1982 Yamaha he was operating crashed into a ditch, according to a report filed by the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.

The motorcyclist, who has not yet been named, was taken to Kettering Health Dayton, where he died from his injuries.

The crashes remain under investigation.

Staff writer Kristen Spicker contributed to this report.

About the Author