Motorcyclist killed, wife hurt in crash outside Tiffin

6/23/2007

TIFFIN - A 53-year-old Tiffin motorcycle driver died and his wife, who was riding with him, was hurt severely last night in a chain-reaction crash south of Tiffin that involved a tractor-trailer, a van, and a car as well as the motorcycle, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol's Fremont post.

Michael A. Reiter was pronounced dead in Tiffin Mercy Hospital and Janet A. Reiter, 53, was in critical condition in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center last night, a patrol news release said.

Three more people were treated for injuries at local hospitals.

The crash occurred just before 4:30 p.m. on State Rt. 53, south of Seneca County Road 14 in Seneca Township.

The van driven north on Route 53 by Travis M. Stone, 16, of Sycamore, Ohio, slowed for traffic ahead. The semi, also northbound on Route 53, driven by Terry C. Moon, 49, of rural New Riegel, Ohio, did not have an assured clear distance ahead and struck the van in the left rear, according to the patrol.

The semi then went left of center and struck the motorcycle head on. The motorcycle, which was southbound on Route 53, went off the west side of the road, went into a ditch, and overturned, throwing both the driver and his passenger off the bike.

The car driven south on Route 53 by Bonnie A. Phillips, 56, of Tiffin, swerved to avoid hitting the semi and went off the west side of the road, striking the motorcycle in the ditch.

The van went off the east side of the road and struck a parked pickup.

The van driver, Travis, and his passenger, Brandyn Cassady, 16, of Sycamore, were treated at Tiffin Mercy.

The car driver, Ms. Phillips, was treated at Wyandot Memorial Hospital, Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The semi driver, Mr. Moon, was not hurt, according to the patrol's release.