Richmond motorcyclist dies in I-70 crash

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read
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GREENFIELD, Ind. — A Richmond motorcyclist died late Saturday in an Interstate 70 crash.

Mark Webster, 47, was found dead by Indiana State Police officers in the eastbound I-70 lanes near the 97 mile marker, according to a state police news release.

Officers had responded Saturday night just before midnight to the multi-vehicle crash that included a semi-tractor trailer on fire, the release said. Other drivers involved were not injured.

The investigation indicates that a pickup truck pulling a car trailer broke down in the right eastbound lane where there are no emergency shoulders because of road construction, according to the release. Webster's motorcycle struck the back of the trailer, and another car then struck Webster and the motorcycle. Finally, the semi hit the motorcycle, causing the motorcycle and truck to catch fire. The semi's driver escaped before the truck caught fire.

I-70's eastbound lanes were closed about seven hours during the investigation and cleanup, and westbound lanes were closed during the fire. The westbound lanes opened shortly before 2 a.m., according to the release.

The state police investigation continues.

Three motorcyclists have died this year from crashes on Wayne County roads.

Josh Hufnagle, 39, of Winchester, died June 27 in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 35 west of Economy. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that Hufnagle was riding his blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on U.S. 35 when the motorcycle left the roadway's northeast side, went into an embankment and came to rest in a wooded area.

John Keister, 57, of Randolph County died June 23 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after a crash at U.S. 27 and I-70. Keister's northbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle was struck by a silver Ford truck that disregarded a traffic light when turning from southbound U.S. 27 onto the eastbound I-70 onramp, according to a sheriff's investigation.

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. His trial is scheduled Jan. 30 in Superior Court 2.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Richmond motorcyclist dies in I-70 crash