Southwest Illinois man killed when motorcycle crashes into trailer

A Carlinville man was killed Wednesday evening in a fatal two-vehicle crash in Montgomery County.

Ronald C. Schaff, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Illinois State Police.

Schaff was traveling west behind two other vehicles on Illinois 108 at East 2nd Road near Zanesville Township, about 50 miles north of Edwardsville at about 5:40 p.m. when he tried to pass the middle vehicle.

According to state police, Harold K. Schmidt, 57, also of Carlinville, was attempting a left-hand turn onto East 2nd Road in a 3500 Dodge Ram with a box trailer attached. Schaff crashed into the trailer, state police said.

After making contact with the trailer, Schaff was ejected from his motorcycle and pronounced dead on the scene by the Montgomery County coroner. Illinois Route 108 was closed for approximately four hours.

Schmidt reported no injuries at the scene.

An investigation is ongoing, according to a release from state police.

Schaff is the sixth person to be killed in a motorcycle-related crash in the metro-east in less than three weeks.

Two motorcyclists were killed April 22, when a motorist struck them as they waited at a stop sign in Steeleville, according to a police report. Another man from Godfrey lost control of his motorcycle on Seiler Road and was pronounced dead at the scene April 21. A Wisconsin man died May 6 when his motorcycle overturned in a median on an interstate exit ramp near Collinsville. There have been 18 motorcyclist fatalities in Illinois so far this year.

Monday, Mark C. Thompson, 32, of New Baden, died when he collided with an SUV on his motorcycle and was ejected.