The Akron Police Department is investigating two separate traffic fatalities that happened over the weekend.
The victim of the first traffic fatality is from Kentucky. The accident occurred about midnight Saturday morning on 22nd Street Southwest near Chandler Avenue in Kenmore. Police said the man was driving a car northbound on 22nd Street approaching the intersection of Chandler Avenue when he failed to negotiate the curve, drove left of center and struck the west curb and a guardrail. The vehicle struck the guardrail. Police said the guardrail snapped, going through the vehicle and hitting the driver. The driver was killed instantly.
The front seat passenger, the driver’s sister, received minor injuries to her hand.
The victim and driver of the car is a 31-year-old from Jenkins, Ky. The woman in the front seat passenger is a 40-year-old from Robinson Creek, Ky.
A spokesman from the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy was performed on Saturday and determined the victim died from multiple-blunt-force trauma from the crash. Identification of the victim is pending notification of the family.
Police said neither the driver or passenger were wearing seat belts, but the air bags were deployed. Police said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
The victim of the second traffic fatality is a 38-year-old West Akron man. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon when the motorcycle driver was traveling east on Interstate 76 and exited onto state Route 59.
Police said the driver failed to negotiate the curve on the bridge and struck the right cement median barrier. The driver was ejected and the victim’s body fell below the bridge onto the sidewalk on Russell Avenue just east of Dart Avenue. The motorcyclist died at the scene of the accident.
Police said the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, and speed appears to be a factor in the accident.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy is scheduled Monday. The victim’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and family notifications.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.