A Preble County couple was killed and a Washington C.H. man was injured in an accident Monday involving a motorcycle on U.S. Route 22 east near White Road.
At around 4 p.m., a 2012 Hyundai Elantra driven by Walter H. Matson, 69, was heading east on U.S. Route 22 near the White Road intersection when it “collided head-on” in the eastbound lane with a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by James E. Fetters, 65, of Somerville, according to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth.
Both Fetters and the motorcycle’s passenger, identified as Linda L. Fetters, 69, were ejected from the motorcycle as a result of the collision. They were both pronounced dead at the scene by Fayette County Coroner Dr. Dennis Mesker.
Both vehicles came to rest on the south side of U.S. Route 22.
Matson was airlifted from the scene by a Med-Flight helicopter and was taken to a Columbus-area hospital for medical treatment. His status was unknown as of press time.
Deputies interviewed several individuals who were on the scene moments after the accident occurred. Some of the passersby called 911 to report what they saw.
“Several of them saw the aftermath, but no witnesses came forward to say they saw the accident happen,” said Stanforth. “This is going to take some investigation and reconstruction to find out exactly what happened.”
U.S. Route 22 at White Road remained closed Monday evening as members of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit continued their investigation. Traffic was being re-directed to Old Springfield Road, west of the crash scene, and Johnson Road, east of the crash scene. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage in the collision and were towed from the scene.
Also assisting at the scene were the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, Fayette County EMS, the Sheriff’s Rescue Unit, the Pic-A-Fay Fire Department, and the Washington C.H. Fire Department.
