In the quiet dusk of Berlin Township, Ohio, a devastating collision claimed the life of 23-year-old Cade Gwynn, a vibrant young man from Huron, on the evening of August 31, 2025. The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Sandusky Post is piecing together the details of the fatal two-vehicle crash that unfolded on U.S. Route 6 near State Route 61, leaving a community in mourning.
At approximately 8:58 p.m., Gwynn was riding his 2018 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle westbound, the hum of the engine cutting through the calm of the Erie County night. At the same moment, 23-year-old Andrew Rochleau of Elyria was driving eastbound in his 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. As Rochleau attempted a left turn into a private driveway, tragedy struck. Investigators report that Rochleau failed to yield, and Gwynn’s motorcycle collided with the side of the car. The impact was catastrophic, ejecting Gwynn from his bike. Without a helmet, he sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rochleau, secured by his seat belt, emerged from the crash unharmed. Authorities have ruled out alcohol and drugs as factors in the incident, focusing instead on the critical moment of the failed yield that led to the collision. The OSHP, supported by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, continues to investigate, with no charges filed as of now, as they work to understand the full circumstances of the crash.
The loss of Cade Gwynn, a young man in the prime of his life, has left a profound void in Berlin Township. As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples with the fragility of life and the suddenness of tragedy on a familiar stretch of road.