A two-vehicle wreck on Adams Lane near Somers Street took the life of a 21-year-old Zanesville rider Tuesday evening. Eestan Starkey was on his 2026 Kawasaki heading north when the collision happened around 6 p.m.
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers reached the spot fast. A juvenile behind the wheel of a 2007 Toyota Yaris had been driving south. The car left the right side of the road on a curve, crossed the centerline, and hit Starkey’s motorcycle head-on.

Starkey died right there on the pavement. The crash closed the road while emergency crews worked. It was a clear reminder of how fast things can go wrong on a local street.
The Yaris driver was a juvenile. That detail alone has people talking about experience behind the wheel and what happens on curves like the one near Somers Street. Troopers are still sorting out the exact sequence.
Several agencies joined the response. Falls Township firefighters, Muskingum County deputies, the coroner, city police, and the prosecutor’s office all played a part. The scene stayed active until the road could be cleared.
Starkey was from Zanesville. He was young, out on his bike on an ordinary Tuesday. The investigation continues with no final word on cause or any possible charges.
Adams Lane is quiet again now. But the memory of that northbound motorcycle and the southbound car that crossed the line stays with everyone who heard the news.



