On Tuesday, April 18, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a motorcycle crash with serious injury on Strawtown Avenue near Cyntheanne Road in the far eastern portion of the county. Arriving deputies found the motorcycle in a field and the rider near the bike.
Based on preliminary information, deputies report it appeared the motorcycle, a red 2008 Ducati, was eastbound on Strawtown Avenue when it left the south side of the roadway and lost control in a field. The bike continued several hundred feet in the field before coming to a rest with the driver ejected from the motorcycle. Investigators are still working to determine the exact time of the crash as there were no witnesses.
The driver of the motorcycle, Kurtis B. Gwaltney, 26, Anderson, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. Mr. Gwaltney was wearing a helmet but sustained severe trauma during the incident. The family of the deceased has been notified.
Pursuant to Indiana law with all fatal and serious bodily injury crashes, toxicology tests were performed. Results of tests are pending but nothing in the initial investigation led deputies to believe there were signs of impairment.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Team is handling the crash investigation. Anyone with information regarding the crash should contact the Crash Investigation Team at (317) 773-1872 or through Hamilton County Public Safety Communications at (317) 773-1282.