Motorcyclist is 2nd to die in 5 days after Wayne County crashes

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·3 min read

ECONOMY, Ind. — A Randolph County man died Monday in a U.S. 35 motorcycle crash.

Josh Hufnagle, 39, of Winchester, died at the scene in the 12500 block of U.S. 35 west of Economy, according to Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter. Hufnagle was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton, Ohio, for an autopsy.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that Hufnagle, who had been reported missing since early Sunday, was riding his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on U.S. 35 when the motorcycle left the roadway's northeast side, the release said. The motorcycle went into an embankment and came to rest in a wooded area.

Rally: More than 150 protest Supreme Court's abortion vote at Wayne County Courthouse

Speed likely contributed to the accident, the release said.

Richmond Fire Department's drone team assisted the investigation with measurements and aerial photography. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Hagerstown Police Department, Economy Fire Department, Reid Health EMS and Road One Towing also assisted the sheriff's department.

The investigation continued on Tuesday afternoon..

Hufnagle is the second Randolph County motorcyclist in five days to die after crashes on Wayne County roads.

Music: New museum exhibit celebrates Gennett Records legacy, impact

John Keister, 57, of died Thursday at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after a crash at U.S. 27 and Interstate 70, according to a sheriff's department news release.

Keister's northbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle was struck by a silver Ford truck turning from southbound U.S. 27 onto the eastbound I-70 onramp, the release said. Jerry Gant, 67, of El Cajon, California, disregarded a traffic light and struck Keister's motorcycle with his truck's front passenger's side quarter panel.

Keister was originally transported to Reid Health before being flown by medical helicopter to Miami Valley.

Gant was tested at Reid Health, but investigators did not believe alcohol or drug impairment was a factor in the crash.

Trails: Cardinal Greenway brings visitors to Richmond

The sheriff's department will turn over its investigation findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for review.

Wayne County Emergency Communications, Richmond Police Department, Richmond Fire Department, Reid Health, Indiana State Police and MedFlight medical helicopter assisted the sheriff's department.

Another motorcyclist, Samuel Weller, 47, of Liberty, was killed May 10 when his motorcycle was struck head-on by an SUV driven by Rafael Lopez, 27, of Richmond on Pottershop Road.

Lopez is charged with Level 5 felony reckless homicide and misdemeanor operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.

Others to have died this year because of incidents on Wayne County roadways include:

  • Pedestrian Levi M. Cregar, 41, of Connersville who was struck June 2 on Indiana 1 by a vehicle driven by Robert Lee McKinney Jr., 53, of Connersville. McKinney is charged with Level 4 felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated;

  • One of two babies did not survive an emergency caesarian section April 20 after their mother, Cheyanne Garringer of Hagerstown, was injured during a crash on Lamar Road northwest of Hagerstown; and

  • Emily Poundstone, 36, of Richmond died from injuries sustained during a head-on crash March 14 on Henley Road.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Motorcyclist is 2nd to die in 5 days after Wayne County crashes