HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Pataskala man was hospitalized with suspected serious injuries Sunday evening following a high-speed, rear-end collision on US-23 involving a motorcycle and an SUV.
The crash occurred on June 21, 2026, at approximately 6:12 p.m. in the northbound lanes of US-23, just south of Township Road 97 in Harrison Township.
According to an Ohio State Highway Patrol traffic report filed by Trooper Seth Moody, Mathew Ryan Kaufman, 42, of Pataskala, was operating a black 2021 Harley-Davidson Street Glide motorcycle northbound in the left lane of US-23. Traveling ahead of him in the same lane was a white 2024 Honda CR-V driven by Amy Marie Adamski, 50, of Oregon, Ohio.
The patrol narrative states that Kaufman attempted to pass the Honda on the right side. During the maneuver, Kaufman’s motorcycle—traveling at an estimated speed of 75 mph in a 60 mph zone—struck the rear end of Adamski’s SUV.
The impact caused disabling damage to the Harley-Davidson and minor damage to the rear of the Honda CR-V.
Kaufman, who was wearing a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet at the time of the crash, suffered suspected serious injuries. He was treated at the scene and transported by Harrison Township Medic 801 to Grant Medical Center in Columbus for emergency medical care. Adamski was wearing a shoulder and lap belt, and the vehicle’s front airbags deployed. She reported no apparent injuries.
Kaufman has been cited under Ohio Revised Code section 4511.21A for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead (ACDA). The report also notes a driver distraction inside or on the motorcycle as a contributing factor.
The highway patrol noted that weather conditions were clear and the asphalt roadway was dry at the time of the incident. The crash response and subsequent investigation closed a portion of the roadway for 27 minutes, with the scene fully cleared by 8:01 p.m. Several witnesses provided statements to responding troopers.
