9:31 A.M. UPDATE
SHELBY COUNTY — Shelby County Sheriff Louie Koch identified the motorcyclist who died in a crash on I-74 near State Road 9 as Shelby County Deputy Jay L. Griffith Jr.
Griffith, 37, was off duty at the time of the accident, Koch said. He began his career with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in June of 2013. Shelby County Coroner Bradley Rund said Griffith was a resident of Shelby County.
“Deputy Griffith’s passing is an immense loss to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and our community in which he lived and served. I want to share my condolences with Jay’s family friends and colleagues, he will be greatly missed,” Koch said.
Cause and manner of death for Griffith will be released following an autopsy, Rund said.
ORIGINAL STORY
SHELBY COUNTY — A motorcyclist was killed Wednesday morning in a single motorcycle crash on I-74 near State Road 9.
At 3:38 a.m. deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, along with troopers from the Indiana State Police responded to reports of a single motorcycle crash westbound on I-74 at the 113 mile marker. When deputies arrived they found an adult male pinned under the motorcycle, and he was unconscious and unresponsive, deputies said. Despite life saving efforts by first responders, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists determined the motorcyclist was westbound on I-74 and exited onto the ramp to State Road 9. For unknown reasons the motorcyclist applied the brakes and began to skid. The motorcycle fell over and trapped the rider underneath, deputies said. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.
This crash is still under investigation. The identity of the deceased man will be released later today, deputies said.
