Man 'severely' hurt after UTV crash

OXFORD TWP. — Two men allegedly walked away from an accident that left another man seriously injured Saturday night.The crash, involving a Polaris RZR UTV — or utility terrain vehicle — occurred at about 11:20 p.m. on Mason Road, just west of Ransom Road. The UTV went off the road and through a yard before it hit a mailbox and then a utility pole. The vehicle flipped after hitting the pole.Police believe three people inside the UTV were all ejected when the vehicle crashed, Erie County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jared Oliver said. The vehicle is not street legal, and law enforcement suspects alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash.The crash left one man, identified as Tyler Slack, 36, of Mason Road, with "severe facial lacerations," and he was taken by medical helicopter to a Cleveland hospital, Oliver said. He remains there conscious but unable to speak due to his injuries as of Monday.According to a sheriff's office report, bystanders said the vehicle's two other occupants allegedly left the area after a bystander said they were calling 911.Oliver identified the other occupants as Dawson Riedy, 29, of Bellevue, and Daniel Ballah, 35, of Milan. Ballah went to the sheriff's office the morning after the crash and provided law enforcement "detailed information about the accident," Oliver said. He suffered minor injuries.The sheriff's office also spoke with Riedy on Monday, and he told them he suffered a concussion and couldn't remember what happened, Oliver said.Oliver said potential charges won't be filed until Slack can give his account of what happened."We're waiting to talk to the victim and will consult with the prosecutor's office (for possible charges,)" he said.Visit our Erie County Sheriff's Office hub for more storiesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThis Polaris RZR UTV, pictured in a garage attached to the Erie County Sheriff's Office, crashed into a utility pole on Mason Road in Oxford Township Saturday, April 6.