SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – An off-duty deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department was killed early Wednesday morning in a motorcycle accident on I-74 at State Road 9.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police (ISP), responded just after 3:30 a.m., to reports of a single motorcycle crash on westbound I-74 at the 113-mile marker. When deputies arrived, they found an unconscious and unresponsive adult male pinned under the motorcycle. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, the victim, Deputy Jay L. Griffith Jr., was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Griffith began his career with the department in June 2013. “Deputy Griffith’s passing is an immense loss to our department and the community in which he lived and served,” said Shelby County Sheriff Louie Koch. “I want to share my condolences with Jay’s family, friends, and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.”
Griffith was participating in a multi-state motorcycle ride with a large group of other motorcyclists, according to ISP. The ride had just started in Shelbyville when the fatal crash occurred.
A preliminary investigation determined Griffith was westbound on I-74 and exited onto the ramp to S.R. 9. For unknown reasons, he applied the brakes and began to skid. The motorcycle fell over and trapped him underneath. He was wearing a helmet. The accident investigation is ongoing.
