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Driver faces felonies for SUV wreck: Struck five motorcyclists on S.R. 5 in Charlestown

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Matt Fredmonsky
May 8, 2009

 

By Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier staff writer

The driver of an SUV that plowed into several motorcyclists on S.R. 5 in Charlestown last summer has been charged with numerous counts of vehicular assault.

Daniel T. Masterson, 24, of Leavittsburg, Ohio, also has been charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence in the July 12 crash involving five victims. The victims were riding, or were passengers on, motorcycles heading for a Saturday night chicken roast sponsored by a Warren motorcycle club.

Authorities say Masterson was traveling westbound on S.R. 5 in his Saturn Vue when he drifted left of center and struck the motorcyclists, who were riding east, just after 5 p.m.

Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said no one died as a result of the crash, but five people were seriously injured.

Vigluicci said Masterson was indicted April 28 on two counts per victim: One count of aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; and one count of vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony. The charge for operating a vehicle while under the influence is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Vigluicci declined to comment on the results of Masterson’s toxicology tests pending the pre-trial, which is set for June 5. 

“He was OVI and caused serious injury to multiple victims,” Vigluicci said.

Masterson was arraigned Monday and posted a $10,000 bond.

The day of the crash, the lead motorcycle rider, Thurl Harris, told the Record-Courier he saw Masterson drifting left of center as they drove toward each other.

“He had his head down,” Harris said. “I yelled and screamed at him as I went by. I looked in my back (mirror) and it was just people flying everywhere.”

 




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 3 Total Comments
3.
    Posted by draygreen06 May 10, 2009
we all know he will get slap on the wrist... but if he didnt pay child support on kids he couldnt see they would toss him in the electric chair

2.
    Posted by J-Man May 8, 2009
If that is the case and he was text messaging then he deserves to be locked away. Anyone stupid enough to think that taking your eyes off the road to root around for a cell phone on the floor of your vehicle is a bright idea needs to be removed from this planet.

1.
    Posted by kent moms other 1/2m (dad) May 8, 2009
well now they are saying he was intoxicated. wonder how light he will get off in ravenna court i met the girl that lost her leg from this accident . she was telling a group of us he was trying to txt message someone ad dropped cell phone. being intoxicated is bad enuff but trying t text whoa what next

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