“It is with broken hearts that our community comes together to embrace the family and friends of senior student Elijah Berman who tragically died Tuesday evening,” read a statement from Chaminade Julienne Principal Greg Mueller.
“Eli was an all-around Eagle — a member of the football and track teams, had recently accepted an offer to play college football at Eastern Michigan University, was an Eagle Ambassador, participated in the Little Sibs program and was a strong student with a big personality."
An email sent to students said counselors and campus ministers would be available from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday for students at the downtown Dayton school.
“We ask for prayers for God’s peace and comfort through this tragic and most difficult time,” Mueller said.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Lebanon Post, at about 5:12 p.m., emergency crews were called to a crash at the ramp from northbound Interstate 75 to Ohio 123.
Preliminary investigation found that a 1995 Peterbilt 379 semi truck was driving down the ramp from the highway when it hit a 2006 Suzuki DL1000 motorcycle that was driving south on Ohio 123 in the intersection. The semi then hit a raised median divider and overturned.
The motorcycle overturned as well and came to rest in the median. The motorcyclist, later identified as Berman, was taken by ambulance to Atrium Medical Center, where he died due to his injuries, OSHP said.
The driver of the semi was also taken to Atrium Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.
OSHP did not say whether the motorcycle or the semi were considered at fault, but said that the crash is still under investigation.
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