DeMotte Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash
On August 13th, 2024, at 11:58 P.M., the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a crash at the State Rd. 10/I-65 interchange involving a motorcycle and a semi-tractor trailer.
First responders were promptly dispatched to the scene. Tragically, the motorcyclist, identified as Christopher M. Contreras, 41, of DeMotte, Indiana, was pronounced deceased at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash.
While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary findings indicate that Contreras was traveling east on State Rd 10 on a 2020 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Meanwhile, a 2019 Peterbilt semi-tractor trailer, driven by Gokhan Bayram, 42, of Vineland, New Jersey, was heading west on State Rd 10 and was making a left turn onto the ramp leading to southbound I-65 when the motorcycle collided with the rear of the trailer.
Witnesses at the scene reported that Contreras appeared to be struggling with the operation of the motorcycle before the collision, noting that the headlights were off, but the hazard lights were activated. Additionally, it was observed that the motorcycle was being operated in a reckless fashion.
The investigation into this fatal crash is still active.
