- Justin Alkire, of Niles in Ohio, was driving along Route 322 in Ashtabula County
- He tried to dodge the dead horse on the road but hit it and flipped over his truck
- Police said he was not wearing a seatbelt and ‘alcohol may have been a factor’
- A 16-year-old boy driving in the car with him survived with just minor injuries
Ohio State Highway Patrol said Justin Alkire (pictured) appears to have tried to swerve around the horse but lost control and flipped his 2006 Ford F-250 truck onto its hood.
A 23-year-old man has died after crashing into a dead horse which caused his truck to flip over.
Justin Alkire, of Niles in Ohio, was driving east along Route 322 in Ashtabula County when he came upon the carcass at about 4.53am yesterday.
Ohio State Highway Patrol said Alkire appears to have tried to swerve around the horse but lost control and flipped his 2006 Ford F-250 truck onto its hood.
He died at the scene but a 16-year-old from Williamsfield who was also in the car survived with minor injuries.
Police said Alkire was not wearing a seatbelt, but his passenger was.
The boy, 16, is now at Mercy Health St. Joseph’s of Andover for treatment.
Police also said that ‘alcohol and speed’ may been ‘factor’ in the fatal crash.
But investigators have not yet determined how the horse came to be in the roadway.
Police continue to investigate.
In a tribute posted online, Stephanie Ann Ciecerko-groves said: ‘How unfair up there without us!’
Matthew Chernesky said he had lost one of his ‘best friends’.
Alkire posted what appears to be a picture of the truck involved in the tragic crash
He added: ‘I wish we would have made our plans to hang out before I moved, you never know when is the last time you will see someone. Justin Alkire was taken too early from the earth but I know I will see him again.
‘Rest easy, buddy.’
Another friend, Kaley Magnus, said: ‘God I just can’t believe that you’re gone. I literally just talked to you a couple days ago.’