A 78-year-old Ohio man was found dead Saturday — a day after he crashed his motorcycle on an Interstate 65 exit ramp in northern Jackson County
Police believe Ivan F. Hammond of Monclava, Ohio, died sometime Friday, but his motorcycle was not seen sooner due to the distance and location from the northbound ramp at the Jonesville exit, according to a report from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police Post at Versailles.
At about noon Saturday, troopers Korry Clark and Ed Olibo were called to the scene after someone reported spotting a yellow 2018 Honda motorcycle off the interstate at the 55 mile marker, said Wheeles, who is the post’s public information officer.
When the troopers arrived at the scene, they found Hammond dead.
Evidence at the scene along with other information gathered by investigators indicated that the crash likely occurred sometime Friday, Wheeles said.
A missing person report had been filed in Ohio earlier Saturday as family was not able to contact Hammond who was overdue in returning home, police said.
The initial investigation indicated Hammond was traveling northbound on the interstate when he attempted to exit onto State Road 11, Wheeles said.
Investigators believe Hammond was traveling too fast for the exit and that his motorcycle left the roadway and overturned, Wheeles said.
Hammond was thrown from the motorcycle which caused him to sustain fatal injuries. Hammond was wearing a helmet and other protective clothing at the time of the crash.
The investigation by Clark, a crash reconstructionist, is ongoing. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be contributing factors.
Hammond’s family has been notified.
State police were assisted by Jackson County Emergency Medical Services, Redding Township Fire Department, Jackson County Coroner’s Office, and 31 Wrecker Service.