Man In Critical Condition After Motorcycle Crash Friday

Mentor Police and Fire departments responded to a pair of motorcycle crashes this weekend in the city.

The first occurred about 6 a.m. Friday on Twinbrook Road.

A 2000 Suzuki GSX13R collided into the side of a Chevrolet Cavalier. The motorcycle was driving down the road when the car pulled out of a driveway.

The bike tried to swerve left of center to avoid the Cavalier but the Cavalier was also turning into a nearby driveway so they still ended up colliding, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

The bike's driver -- Cody Cutts, 36, of Concord Township -- was thrown from bike.

Paramedics took him to Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby. From there, he was flown by medical helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Cutts is still at MetroHealth as of Monday. He is in critical but stable condition, Zbiegien said.

The second motorcycle crash occurred Saturday afternoon on the westbound lanes of State Route 2 just west of Hendrix Road.

A Chevrolet Venture had broken down on the right lane of the interstate, which was down to two lanes anyhow because of construction.

A pair of motorcycles were traveling in tandem with Dallas Smith IV and his father driving them, respectively, Zbiegien said.

The bikes came upon the broken down Venture. They tried to swerve away and, while Smith's father changed lanes safely, Smith ran into the back of the van, Zbiegien said.

Both Smith and his passenger, Donna Smeken, were hurt during the crash.

Smeken, 57, of Concord Township, had a broken leg. She was taken to Lake West.

Smith, 49, of Perry, had a head injury. He was driven to Lake West and then flown to Metro.

However, he is in good condition and expected to make a full recovery, Zbiegien said. Meanwhile, Smeken checked herself out of Lake West so she could visit Smith in the hospital.

Both crashes are still under investigation by Mentor Police.