COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 20-year-old man operating an ATV was killed after his ATV collided with a snowmobile Sunday morning in Coventry Township, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and the Summit Metro Crash Response Team responded at around 2:20 a.m. to a crash near 530 Portage Lakes Drive on the West Reservoir.
The crash involved a 20-year-old man, identified by the medical examiner as Sebastian Spencer, of Green, operating a 2006 Yamaha YFS200 and a 33-year-old man from Coventry Township operating a 2005 Arctic Cat.
Both drivers were operating the vehicles on the ice when they struck each other. Spencer was transported to Akron General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The 33-year-old man was transported to Akron City Hospital for life-threatening injuries.
The loss still stings for Don Boyer, the owner of Pick's at Portage Lakes.
"It happened on the water behind us and I’m one of the people that found him," he said. "It was really difficult."
Boyer previously hired Spencer and had planned on bringing him back to the restaurant this summer.
"Sebastian worked for pretty much every restaurant on Portage Lakes," Boyer said with a smile. "He was very well known and a likable kid."
“Just a Dad from Akron" posted a video honoring Spencer’s passion where he worked.
News 5 highlighted the organization last December, when they held a Christmas present giveaway for families in need.
Now, Boyer is working on a fundraiser for Spencer’s family, scheduled for this Wednesday.
"He just had the greatest personality," Boyer said. "Anytime he was here, he was trying to help out."
Specifically, Boyer wants the community to help support Spencer’s son, who was born just two months ago.
"It’s very upsetting to know his son is going to grow up not knowing his father and having that relationship with his father," he said.
The sheriff’s office said both vehicles were being operated outside allowable hours on the lake and speed is suspected to be a factor.
"When we talk about ice safety, most of the time people think of going through the ice and it’s not thick enough," Summit County Sheriff's office Inspector Bill Holland said. "This case, this wasn’t the issue. The issue was the two crashed into one another."
A makeshift memorial is set up with flowers and candles where the crash occurred on the frozen lake. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help benefit Sebastian Spencer's family as well.
Both riders were wearing a helmet. The crash remains under investigation.
