Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016
Motorcyclist found dead in wheat field
Officials withholding man's name until family is notified
By Ed Gebert
Photo by Ed Gebert/The Daily Standard
Officials investigate in a wheat field east of Celina where a motorcycle crash victim was found early Tuesday afternoon. It appears the rider may have crashed several days ago. The victim was found north of state Route 29 between Staeger and Havemann roads.
CELINA - The body of a crash victim and a motorcycle were discovered Tuesday along a Mercer County highway, but Celina police officials are unsure how long the man's body had lain there.
Celina Police received a call just after noon from a person who had been riding a horse next to a wheat field along state Route 29 between Staeger and Havemann roads. The caller was riding in a field owned by Linus Braun north of the highway and saw a man and a motorcycle in the field, police said.
Officers determined the victim was dead, likely for a number of days, according to a news release. The motorcycle reportedly was traveling westbound on state Route 29 and traveled off the right side of the highway as the road curved to the left. The motorcycle reportedly traveled into the ditch on the north side of the road and continued for several hundred feet before striking a culvert, ejecting the rider, according to the release.
Police have not determined the date and time of the crash. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
The crash remains under investigation by Celina police officers. Personnel from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, Auglaize County Sheriff's Office and the Celina Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Police chief Tom Wale was not available by press time for further information.
