Motorcyclist killed in hit-skip crash
Oct. 6—NORWALK — The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred 8:39 p.m. Wednesday on Ohio 61 near Ohio 601 in Norwalk Township.
Chad Holbrook, 49, Norwalk, was driving a 2007 Chevy truck northbound on Ohio 61 when he rear-ended a 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Benjamin Curtis Conley, 46, Collins. The impact threw Conley from his motorcycle, where he landed in a ditch. Conley was not wearing a helmet and suffered fatal injuries at the scene.
Holbrook continued driving north on Ohio 61 while dragging the Harley Davidson with his truck. He turned left onto Seminary Road and continued northbound when the motorcycle eventually became dislodged. Holbrook continued north, turned right onto McIntyre Road and eventually stopped in the roadway approximately two miles from the initial crash scene.
An off-duty deputy with the Erie County Sheriff's Office, Hayden Service, witnessed the crash and followed Holbrook. When Holbrook stopped his truck on McIntyre Road due to disabling damage, the deputy exited his vehicle and identified himself as law enforcement. The deputy ordered Holbrook to stop as he was exiting the truck. Holbrook disobeyed the order and fled on foot into a wooded area.
Approximately two hours later, Holbrook was taken into custody after an extensive manhunt. Holbrook was arrested and incarcerated at the Huron County Jail. Charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and operating a vehicle while impaired have been filed in Norwalk Municipal Court. He was not wearing a seat belt and was not injured in the crash.
The Ohio State Patrol was assisted on scene by the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the Huron County Sheriff's Office, the Berlin Heights Police Department, Norwalk Fire Department, North Central EMS, The Huron County Coroners Office, Interstate Towing and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
