DUNKIRK, OH — The community is mourning the tragic and untimely loss of Joseph Allen “Joe” Bayliff, 40, of Dunkirk, who died on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in a motorcycle accident while doing what he loved most—riding.
Joseph Allen “Joe” Bayliff Motorcycle Accident Report
A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the life of a Dunkirk man Thursday night in Hardin County.
According to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, emergency dispatchers received multiple 9-1-1 calls shortly before 9 p.m. on June 12, 2025, reporting a crash near the intersection of State Route 309 and County Road 95 in Cessna Township.
Responding units found that a 2017 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, operated by Joseph Bayliff, was traveling eastbound on County Road 90 when it left the north side of the roadway. The motorcycle crossed a drainage ditch and entered onto State Route 309, where Bayliff was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
Bayliff, a well-known resident of rural Dunkirk, was the co-owner and general manager of Route 30 Harley-Davidson and a prominent figure in the local motorcycle and fitness communities.
Emergency responders on the scene included the McGuffey and Kenton Fire Departments, BKP Ambulance District, the Multi-County Crash Team, the Hardin County Coroner, and Osborn’s Towing.
Joe Bayliff Obituary
Known for his larger-than-life presence, love for his family, and passion for motorcycles, Joe’s passing has sent shockwaves through the region. He was the co-owner and general manager of Route 30 Harley-Davidson, where he was more than just a business leader—he was the heart and soul of the dealership.
Born in Ashland, Ohio, on October 9, 1984, Joe was adopted into the loving family of Mark and Dinah (Cole) Bayliff. A 2003 graduate of Allen East High School, he was a standout athlete who later earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Bowling Green State University.
Joe’s professional journey began in architecture, working for Dave Roth, but his entrepreneurial spirit soon led him down a new path. In 2015, he and his wife, Amanda “Mandie” E. Crates, opened BayliffT Gym and Box, where they fostered a community rooted in fitness, friendship, and personal growth. Just a few years later, in 2018, the couple took on a new adventure—purchasing Route 30 Harley-Davidson, where Joe poured his heart and energy into building a thriving community of riders.
Joe and Mandie shared 11 years of marriage, raising their daughters Raena Quinn and Kendall Trinity, and lovingly parenting Kellen Scott and Gabriel Reis Steinmetz. Joe was known as a deeply devoted father and husband whose world revolved around his family.
“He was everything to us,” said a close family member. “Joe didn’t just live life—he embraced it with joy, intensity, and boundless love. His presence filled every room, and his absence will be felt forever.”
Joe is survived by his wife, children, parents, and brother Nathan (Sara) Bayliff, as well as a close-knit extended family that includes his in-laws, Larry and Rindy Crates; Rich and Katie Kramer; nieces Zoie, Kenzie, Noah, and Ella; and nephew Braden.
A proud member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jenera, Joe’s faith was an integral part of his life. Friends remember him as wildly charismatic, fiercely loyal, and unapologetically passionate—a man who loved deeply, laughed often, and lived without regret.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days as the family prepares to celebrate the life of a man who meant so much to so many. In the meantime, the Route 30 Harley-Davidson family and the wider riding community are coming together to honor Joe’s memory with tributes, remembrances, and rides in his name.
Joe Bayliff’s legacy lives on through the community he helped build, the family he cherished, and the countless lives he touched along the way.