Prosecutor Gains injured in accident on motorcycle ride

By Karl Henkel

khenkel@vindy.com

RICHFIELD

Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains is alive but sore after suffering a bruised right hip in a motorcycle accident Saturday afternoon.

“The reports of my demise are overexaggerated,” Gains told The Vindicator.

Gains was one of about 3,500 who participated in a Veterans Day weekend ride on southbound Interstate 77 in Richfield, about 60 miles west of Youngstown, when a motorcyclist riding behind him lost control.

Gains said the individual had fallen off his bike before the bike struck Gains’ fender.

“When his bike hit mine, he had already fallen off,” said Gains, who estimated he was traveling about 20 mph at the time of the crash. “When I felt the impact, I saw the bike in the mirror.”

Gains said he tried to ride through the impact, but his fender crinkled from the contact and locked up his rear tire.

Gains then fell on his right hip. His helmet and jacket suffered scratches.

The individual whose bike struck Gains’ motorcycle consoled the prosecutor. An incident report was filed in Summit County.

He was taken to an Akron-area hospital, where he underwent an X-Ray before being released.

Gains, a motorcycle instructor, said he hopes to be at work Monday.

“I’m going to be very sore,” he said. “I hope to be at work on Monday, but they said Monday is going to be the worst day.”