Two-vehicle crash in Burton Twp., Mantua man dies

A Mantua man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Burton Township Friday afternoon, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Chardon office.

A Mantua man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Burton Township Friday afternoon, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Chardon office.

Benjamin Derousse, 49, of Mantua was driving south on Claridon-Troy Road around 4:45 p.m. when he attempted to pass two cars and collided head-on with a pickup truck in the northbound lane at the corner of 15829 Claridon-Troy Road, police said in a news release.

“The pickup truck was a black 2024 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 55-year-old Evelyn Glova of Aurora,” Lt. LP Jones said in the release. “After making contact with the pickup truck, the motorcycle left the left side of the road and landed in a ditch, ejecting the driver.”

Derousse, the motorcycle's sole occupant, died at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident, Jones said in the press release.

The Geauga County Sheriff's Office, Burton Fire/EMS, Middlefield Fire/EMS and Community Care responded to the scene.

“It is unknown whether alcohol played a role in the accident and whether a helmet was not worn,” Jones said, adding that the accident remains under investigation.