Recordpub.com - 2 still in serious condition Motorcyclists in S.R. 5 crash

By Don Jovich

Record-Courier staff writer

Two people remain hospitalized in intensive care units after Saturday's motor vehicle accident involving an SUV and three motorcyclists with passengers.

The Ohio Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash that occurred at 4:55 p.m. in Charlestown Township on S.R. 5 east of Hanna Road.

The motorcycles were eastbound along S.R. 5 when two were struck by a westbound Saturn Vue that traveled left of center, according to the patrol.

One motorcyclist took evasive action to avoid the crash and struck another motorcyclist. Both passengers and one motorcycle driver were ejected.

Among the motorcycle drivers, David Perrine, 50, of Akron sustained serious injuries and was transported to Akron City Hospital where he was in the intensive care unit Sunday evening listed in serious condition. His passenger, Julia Hill, 26, of Akron, was transported to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna and was either transferred or released, according to the hospital.

Another motorcycle driver, Geoffrey Davis, 50, of Akron, was transported to Robinson Memorial were he was listed in fair condition Sunday evening. His passenger, Theresa Miller, 37, of Akron, sustained serious injuries and was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown where she she was in the surgical intensive care unit Sunday evening.

The third motorcyclist, Kenneth Reese, 51 of Cuyahoga Falls, was transported to Akron City Hospital where he was listed in satisfactory condition. His passenger, Kim Mook, 40, of Akron, sustained only minor injuries and refused treatment.

The driver of the SUV, Daniel Masterson, 24, of Leavittsburg, was not injured. Officers reported his seat belt was in use and the vehicle's air bags were deployed.

Masterson was taken into custody by the Ravenna Police Department following the crash.

None of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets and alcohol was not suspected to be a factor at the time of the accident, according to patrol.

The accident remains under investigation.

9.	Posted by GoBucks July 14, 2008
	I find it quite ignorant to even bring up the topic of the bikers not wearing a helmet. As stated, it is not a requirement in the state of Ohio to wear a helmet. Secondly, none of the people involved sustained head injuries; therefore, how could the topic of wearing a helmet be probable? My family and I consider the bikers in this accident to be our own family and have been there by each of their sides, nonstop, for the past two days. The young male who was driving the SUV was indeed on his cellphone, texting. All it takes is a split second for something as tragic as this to happen. Maybe people of all ages can learn from this unfortunate accident and realize cell phone usage while driving is really not necessary. Simply stated: the main concern of all drivers should be the road they are traveling on. Please keep the bikers involved in this accident in your thoughts and prayers. They, as well as their families, desperately need it.

6.	Posted by wbw July 14, 2008
	Helmets....that's a good topic to discuss. I am a beginner rider (just got my license a few weeks ago) and I never ride without a helmet and it will be a LONG time, if ever, before I ride without a helmet. My husband rides a sport bike and wears his helmet as well. The only time we do not is when we are at a bike rally - where traffic is mainly bikes and usually not going faster than a snails pace. That being said, even though helmet usage is not a requirement in our state, helmet usage is your best defense in an accident - that does not mean you still cannot get seriously injured or killed. What it does mean that if your head hits the pavement it has something to absorb the impact (still gonna hurt) or just protect you while sliding down the pavement. If someone recieves a head injury and they were not wearing their helmet AND it was operator fault - well, I bet you learn the next time. If someone is hit (like these folks) by some lovely person not paying attention, well, is it their fault they were injured? I think not. Moral of the story: PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR BIKES - one cannot estimate their speed from a vehicle and just pull out in front of the bike. I've learned in my very short time of riding to slow down at intersections and I watch CLOSELY. With the increased number of bikers these days, it is the responsibility of the operator of the 4-wheeled vehicle watching and waiting (duh, how many of you have been 'stuck' behind a slow moving bike? not as many as have been behind cars, I'm sure!!) to pull out behind the bike. If you see them coming, they are close enough to wait patiently.

3.	Posted by sherri7352 July 14, 2008
	Good Morning A. I agree with you akruger! Grrrr, that kind of thing just chaps my behind. We always get the "no helmet?" question/statement when asked about my hubbies accident. I would just like to ask the ignorant person(s) that make the statement or ask the question, how the heck was a helmet going to prevent the stupidity of the girl that wasn't paying attention. She nearly killed him. He didn't have a helmet on. That isn't what almost killed him. His head was the least of the worries. Somehow some people have a way of twisting things around to make it look like the big old bikers fault.