Rittman man dies in Wayne County motorcycle crash; Dalton woman seriously injured

WAYNE TWP.  A Rittman man died in a motorcycle crash at about 4:10 p.m. June 28 and his 23-year-old passenger was transported by Metro Life Flight to Akron City Hospital.

The Wooster post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the single-vehicle crash that occurred on County Road 22 (Mechanicsburg Road), south of County Road 86 (Smithville Western Road) in Wayne Township, according to an Ohio Highway Patrol news release.

Initial investigation revealed that a 2018 Aprilia motorcycle being driven by Joshua Perrera, 32 of Rittman, was traveling north on Mechanicsburg Road when he failed to negotiate a curve, traveled left of center and off the west side of the roadway, the news release states. The motorcycle struck a ditch and overturned, ejecting the driver and his passenger, Lauran Ann Hicks, 23, of Dalton.

As a result of injuries sustained in the crash, Perrera was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hicks was seriously injured and was transported by Metro Life Flight to Akron City Hospital, the release states.

Neither of the parties involved were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and it does not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Assisting at the scene were Central Fire and EMS, Wayne County Coroner’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Life Flight.

The crash currently remains under investigation.