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.”