CHESHIRE — Two fatal motor vehicle crashes have occurred in as many days in Gallia County, both on Ohio 7 in the Cheshire-area.

On Tuesday, the Gallia-Meigs Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a one-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m., according to a statement released by Post Commander Lt. Richard Grau.

Troopers said Rachel Kristin Smith, 27, Middleport, was riding a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on Ohio 7 when she drove off the right side of the roadway, lost control, and was ejected from the bike.

Smith was transported to Holzer Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.

The crash remains under investigation, marking the first rural traffic fatality in Gallia County in 2009.

The second fatal crash occurred Wednesday around noon in the area near the Kyger Creek Plant.

As of press time, the patrol had not released details on the accident, but a dispatcher did confirm that the accident was fatal.

Two individuals were also reported to have been lifeflighted from the scene, though those details have not yet been confirmed.

Wednesday’s accident makes for the fifth rural traffic fatality with eight persons killed in the Gallia and Meigs County area in 2009. Three of those deaths have occurred in the last five days as a Long Bottom man was also killed in motorcycle crash on Ohio 124 in Letart Saturday evening.

Additional coverage of Wednesday’s crash will appear in a future edition of the Tribune.