Motorcycle rider injured in head-on crash

The Marysville post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred Friday evening on Route 4 near mile post 18 in Union County.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol received notification of a two-vehicle injury crash involving a motorcycle and a passenger car. First responders arrived to find both vehicles had traveled off their respective sides of the roadway. The at-fault vehicle was a 1999 Jaguar two-door sports car operated by Earl McDaniel, 67, of Marion. The motorcycle involved was a 2006 Suzuki SV650, operated by Donovin Yawnk, 17, of Marysville.

The preliminary investigation showed McDaniel was traveling northbound on Route 4 when he attempted to pass multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed. Yawnk was traveling southbound on Route 4 when he was struck head on.

Units from Northwestern Fire and EMS treated Yawnk on-scene and he was taken by MedFlight with serious injuries to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. McDaniel suffered minor injuries and was not transported from the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on-scene by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Northwestern Fire and EMS and Kirby’s Towing. Reckless driving is considered the contributing factor in the crash.