A 32-year-old Akron motorcyclist was killed Friday afternoon after his bike collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of U.S. Route 6 and State Route 46 in New Lyme Township, Ashtabula County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Emergency crews responded to the crash, and the motorcyclist was initially being taken to a Cleveland hospital by air, but he died at the scene before the helicopter could depart. The pickup driver was not injured.
According to Cleveland 19, troopers say the collision happened around 5:24 p.m. Friday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the motorcyclist as Joseph Langham, 32, of Akron, who was riding a 2023 Yamaha MT-09, and the pickup driver as Ryan Estep, 42, of Thompson, who was behind the wheel of a 2022 Ford F-450.
Investigators told Cleveland 19 that Langham failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign and struck the side of Estep’s truck. South Central Ambulance transported Langham from the scene so he could be flown to University Hospitals in Cleveland, but he died from his injuries before the medical helicopter left the ground. Troopers said Langham was wearing a helmet and that drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.
Summer spike and intersection risk
State officials say the weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day, often called the 100 Deadliest Days, regularly bring a rise in serious and fatal crashes. Failure to yield at intersections is frequently cited among the top causes, according to Spectrum News. That seasonal pattern is a big reason troopers boost enforcement and safety outreach at rural, stop-controlled intersections during the summer months.
Investigation and next steps
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Ashtabula Post continues to investigate the crash and has not released additional details, Cleveland 19 reports. Troopers typically reconstruct fatal collisions and may share more information as they review witness statements and physical evidence. Anyone who saw the crash or has information is asked to contact the OSHP Ashtabula Post.
