Father of two becomes organ donor after fatal crash on I-275

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) – The family of a man killed in a crash on I-275 is being remembered as a loving brother and father.

Todd Rutledge died in a three-vehicle crash.

It happened around midnight on Saturday, causing parts of the highway to be closed for several hours. He was heading home to pick up his children. Rutledge, 46, was the father of a six-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy.

He left his home around 7 p.m. and was returning from a motorcycle club event in Indiana.

Rutledge’s sister said his goal was to support his biker community and pick up his children to take them out for a ride the next morning. She added that he was not on a motorcycle at the time, but was a passenger in his friend’s car.

“She said a car stopped in front of her, just stopped in the middle of the highway, and she hit it and tried to jump over it, and the car hit her and knocked her down, and it was a whirlwind and fatal. My brother is gone,” said Robin Owens McClair, one of Rutledge’s sisters.

“The name of the game is to get home safe and sound.” That was the last thing McClair’s brother said to her. Owens McClair said the phrase gets thrown around in the motorcycle community.

“Safety is the name of the game. Come home safe. He didn’t make it home. At least this time,” Owens McClair said.

That evening, Rutledge was supporting his friends at the Sin City Desciples motorcycle club. Owens McClair said her brother was always there to help and he will continue to do so as an organ donor.

“He wanted to help and save a life or two or three. His death was not in vain as he became an organ donor. I think it’s really profound,” Owens McClair said.

Owens McClair said Rutledge was a family advocate, a comedian and loved to cook. She showed one of his treasured gifts from his two children – an apron with their handprints painted on it.

“They’re devastated and they really don’t have the words to try to understand, but we’ll see him again,” Owens told McClair.

Rutledge’s biker brothers came to the house to show their support. Owens McClair said the motorcycles brought the siblings even closer together.

“The funny thing is it will never die. It will never die and its legacy is this: I will stay on my path. It’s slow, but it’s for show,” Owens explained to McClair.

The Sin City Motorcycle Club is planning a ride in memory of Rutledge. Details will be provided upon publication.