Motorcycle crash attributed to speeding, brakes
Staff report
WARREN — Police say high speed and a brake problem led to the Wednesday afternoon motorcycle accident that left a Champion man in critical condition.
Ronald J. Matusky, 37, of Downs Road, was in critical but stable condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown on Friday, Warren police said.
In a police report released Friday, police said the 1994 Yamaha 750 motorcycle that Matusky was riding skidded 186 feet from a curve on West Market Street near Thumm’s bicycle shop eastbound to a utility pole in front of the Greater Warren-Youngstown Urban League.
The skid marks indicated that Matusky’s motorcycle traveled in a nearly straight line from the curve into the light pole.
The speed that Matusky was traveling was not indicated by police, who noted that charges against Matusky are possible.
Police said the motorcycle skidded and Matusky lost control because the brakes and rear wheel of the motorcycle locked up.
Matusky hit the light pole and landed on the sidewalk in front of the urban league office.
He was face-down on the sidewalk and not moving when emergency personnel arrived for the 5:02 p.m. accident.
Matusky, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered a head injury.
Two other people were riding with him at the time, a Warren man and a Vienna woman.