Motorcyclist dies, wife hurt in 3-vehicle crash

7/14/2003

OTTAWA, Ohio — A Leipsic, Ohio, motorcyclist was killed and his wife injured in an early morning crash yesterday just outside this Putnam County village.

Ronald Moening, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene of the three-vehicle crash on U.S. 224. His wife, Sherry Moening, 48, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, was treated for minor injuries.

According to the Lima post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, the couple were westbound on U.S. 224 when a car driven by Sheryl Heitmeyer, 37, of Ottawa failed to yield at a stop sign at Selhorst Road and drove into their path. The motorcycle hit the car and both riders were ejected. Mr. Moening was thrown onto the trailer of a tractor-trailer rig driven by Thomas Noon, 63, of Menominee, Mich., which was eastbound on U.S. 224.

Both Ms. Heitmeyer and Mr. Noon were treated at the scene for minor injuries, troopers said. The 1 a.m. crash remains under investigation.