STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – A motorcycle crash on Tuesday afternoon killed an Orland man and left another in critical condition.
Around 3:30 p.m., Kenneth R. Steele, 74, and his passenger 75-year-old Janice Steele was driving a black 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle on State Road 120 heading eastbound.
Police say a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by Guy W. Griffith, age 68, of Fremont Indiana turned onto CR 300 W from SR 120 in the path of the bike.
Kenneth was pronounced dead at the scene. Janice was flown to a local hospital with critical injuries. Neither Kenneth nor Janice were wearing a helmet.
Griffith was uninjured in the crash and was wearing a seat belt. Police say that alcohol and speed are not believed to be a factor in the crash which remains under investigation.
Officials with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office released the following:
On May 17, 2022 at approximately 3:30 PM the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of SR 120 and CR 300 W located in Steuben County reference a crash involving a motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle.
Kenneth R Steele, age 74, of Orland Indiana had been eastbound on SR 120 driving a black 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Janice Steele, age 75, of Orland Indiana was a passenger on the motorcycle. Guy W. Griffith, age 68, of Fremont Indiana had been westbound on SR 120 driving a silver 2003 Ford Explorer.
Griffith was turning south onto CR 300 W from SR 120 when he turned into the path of Steele. The motorcycle struck the right front corner of the Ford Explorer, ejecting both Kenneth and Janice from the motorcycle. Kenneth was pronounced dead at the scene by the Steuben County Coroner from blunt force trauma, while Janice was transported to Cameron Hospital by Steuben County EMS and then flown to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Samaritan helicopter. Janice sustained numerous injuries and is in critical condition.
Neither Kenneth nor Janice were wearing a helmet. Griffith was uninjured in the crash and was wearing a seat belt. Alcohol nor speed is not believed to be a factor.
SR 120 was closed for approximately 2 hours while the crash was being investigated by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting at the scene were the Indiana State Police, Angola Police Department, Fremont Fire/Rescue, Steuben County EMS and the Steuben County Coroner’s Office.
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