Man dead after motorcycle crashes into construction truck near Downtown, Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man is dead after a motorcycle crash that occurred late Thursday night off of a highway near Downtown, Columbus.

According to Columbus police, a man was operating a 1998 Harley Davidson Electra Gilde, which was heading westbound on Interstate 70, approaching I-71 and State Route 315 in Franklinton. The man lost control of the motorcycle, which veered off the left side of the roadway and into the gore area between I-70 West and the exit ramps to I-71 South and S.R. 315 North.

At 10:48 p.m., police said the driver and the motorcycle slid into the rear of a construction vehicle parked in the gore. The man, identified as 29-year-old Russel Parsley, was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition, but was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m.

The Columbus Police AIU responded and initiated an investigation, which has yet to reveal why or how Parsley lost control of his motorcycle.

Police said there were two individuals in the box truck that was parked in the gore, but no witnesses were at the crash scene when officers arrived. The truck was waiting to do a lane closure for an I-70 westbound lane and was surrounded by orange construction barrels.

The interstate was closed near West Mount Street and the highway interchanges, and I-70 westbound traffic was rerouted to I-71 South for several hours. All lanes and exit ramps were open by 3:15 a.m.

Any person with knowledge of the crash is encouraged to contact the Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.