Police-lightsAn accident in western Iowa’s Cass County claimed the life a Nebraska man Saturday afternoon. Thirty-eight-year-old Ryan J. Lossing, of Omaha died, when he was run over by a semi after crashing and being ejected from his motorcycle while trying to avoid an accident in front of him.

The accident happened at around 12:45 p.m. Saturday on westbound Interstate 80, north of Atlantic. The Iowa State Patrol says a car driven by 81-year old Donald Kerby, of Des Moines, was in the right lane when Kerby moved left to avoid contact with a trailer parked on the north shoulder of the road. In doing so, he clipped a motorcycle in the left lane, which went out of control.

Lossing, and another motorcyclist crashed following the first accident. Lossing’s 38-year old wife Christina, 33-year old John Chase, of Pacific Junction, and 56-year old William J. Schurevich, of Fremont, Nebsraksa were injured during the chain-reaction crashes. All of the riders were part of more than 107 motorcyclists escorting the remains of an Army veteran who died in a Manassas, Viriginia crash earlier this month, while escorting remains of soldiers to Arlington National Cemetery.

The contingent had just visited the Adair County Freedom Rock north of Greenfield, before returning to Nebraska. Saturday’s crash remains under investigation, with charges pending.

(Reporting by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)