FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH. (THECOUNT) — Jack Lineberry, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, died Saturday after losing control of his motorcycle and striking a guardrail on State Route 800 near Froman Hill Road in Fairfield Township, the Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed.
Lineberry was 63.
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The crash occurred at approximately 5:05 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026. According to OSHP, Lineberry was traveling southbound on a 2006 Harley-Davidson when he encountered a southbound vehicle slowing to make a right turn onto Froman Hill Road. Lineberry, who was not wearing a helmet, swerved left of center to avoid striking the vehicle, traveled off the east side of the roadway, and struck a guardrail. He was transported by MedFlight helicopter to Summa Health System’s Akron campus, where he died from his injuries. Authorities reported that alcohol and drugs were contributing factors in the crash.
Responding to the scene were Mineral-Sandy EMS, the Mineral City Fire Department, Smith Ambulance, MedFlight, and Finlayson Towing.
Fairfield Township is located in Tuscarawas County in northeastern Ohio, a largely rural county situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau. New Philadelphia, where Lineberry resided, is the county seat of Tuscarawas County and is home to approximately 17,000 residents. The city is located along the Tuscarawas River and serves as the commercial and governmental hub of the surrounding region.
State Route 800 is a two-lane rural highway running through Tuscarawas County, passing through a mix of agricultural land, wooded terrain, and small communities. The stretch of SR 800 near Froman Hill Road is characteristic of the rolling, hilly landscape of the Appalachian foothills, where roadway curves and elevation changes can present challenges for motorcyclists, particularly at higher speeds or when impaired.
Summa Health System’s Akron campus, where Lineberry was transported, is a major regional trauma center serving patients from Tuscarawas, Summit, and surrounding counties in northeastern Ohio. The deployment of MedFlight — a critical care air transport service — to the scene underscores the severity of Lineberry’s injuries at the time of initial response.
The absence of a helmet is a significant factor in fatal motorcycle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmets are estimated to be approximately 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders. Ohio law does not require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, though the NHTSA consistently identifies helmet use as one of the most effective measures in reducing motorcycle fatality rates.
Alcohol and drug impairment dramatically increases the risk of fatal crashes for motorcyclists. Impaired riders face significantly reduced reaction times and diminished ability to navigate unexpected road conditions, such as a vehicle slowing ahead. The combination of impairment and helmet non-use in Saturday’s crash represents two of the most commonly cited preventable factors in motorcycle fatalities nationwide.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash. No charges or citations have been announced at this time. Additional details regarding the driver of the southbound vehicle have not been released.
A Google Maps link to the approximate crash location on State Route 800 near Froman Hill Road in Fairfield Township can be found here: State Route 800 & Froman Hill Road, Fairfield Township, Ohio (approximate).
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