Chase turns deadly

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

May 24, 2009 11:38 pm

— NORTH KINGSVILLE — A routine traffic stop turned deadly for a motorcyclist Sunday morning, when a high-speed chase ended in tragedy, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reports.
Donald P. Lundgren, 29, of Kingsville, was driving his 1982 Honda motorcycle eastbound on Route 20 when a North Kingsville police officer initiated the early-morning traffic stop, OHP reports.
Lundgren fled the scene, leading the police officer in a short high-speed chase, OHP reports.
Traveling at a high rate of speed, the motorcycle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox. The motorcycle overturned several times, ejecting Lundgren, OHP reports.
Lundgren suffered blunt trauma to the head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the crash scene at 2:25 a.m., Ashtabula County Coroner’s Investigator Rich Mongell said.
“Unfortunately Mr. Lundgren was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash,” Mongell said. “It appears the motorcycle flipped many times end-to-end.”
Lundgren’s autopsy included toxicology tests, Mongell said. Mongell expects the results of those tests within 10 days.
OHP reports indicate alcohol and speed are the suspected causes of the crash.