Around 4:34 p.m., a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse was traveling southeast on Watervliet Avenue near Westfield Avenue and Rosemont Boulevard.
The driver of the SUV was reportedly on his phone and dropped it.
When he looked down to pick it up, the Traverse went left of center and into the path of another vehicle, said Dayton police Sgt. Gordon Cairns.
A 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt heading in the opposite direction swerved into the southeast lane but was still hit by the SUV.
A motorcycle behind the car didn’t see the oncoming Traverse and was hit head-on, Cairns said.
Medics transported the motorcyclist, later identified as Peters, to the hospital, where he died.
He was not wearing a helmet.
“Ohio is a no helmet state, but we always strongly recommend that everyone wear a helmet when they ride a motorcycle,” Cairns said.
The driver of the Traverse was also taken to the hospital, but it was not related to the crash, according to police.
Cairns said the driver had a suspended license, which increases the severity of potential charges.
Credit: Bryant Billing
Credit: Bryant Billing
The driver could face vehicular homicide or vehicular assault. With the suspended license, the charges would increase from a misdemeanor to a felony, Cairns said.
“This particular case goes back to distracted driving,” he said. “You drop your cellphone, he’s now distracted trying to retrieve that device and goes into oncoming traffic. We’re fortunate that there aren’t more injuries involved in this crash.”
Cairns noted distracted driving isn’t just limited to cellphones.
“People will set up a computer in their lap and they’ll be watching Netflix and things like that,” he said. “When you’re driving your entire job is to just focus on the task at hand, which is driving, focusing on the road, focusing on your surroundings and making sure that you’re being safe.”
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