At least four motorcyclists died in separate crashes in Iowa over Memorial Day weekend, with three of the accidents in western Iowa.
A man from Shelby County died when the motorcycle he was operating was struck from behind late Monday morning by a distracted motorist, near the Adair County Freedom Rock. 56-year-old 56-year old Jay Douglas Thysen, of Elk Horn died at the scene. His passenger, 60-year-old Karen Dena Thysen, also of Elk Horn, was flown by helicopter to a Hospital in Des Moines.
A passenger on a motorcycle trike died Saturday morning near Stanton, in Montgomery County, when a gust of wind pushed the cycle operated by 66-year-old Wendell Keith Gourley, of Stanton to the right, before the machine collided with a cable barrier and six barrier posts, and rolling onto its top. Wendell and his passenger, 66-year-old Jeannie Marie Schomburg-Gourley, were ejected from the motorcycle. The woman died at the scene.
In Madison County, 61-year-old Michael Greene, of Winterset, died from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle crash on Sunday. The sheriff’s office says Greene struck another motorcycle that was slowing down in front of him.
A motorcycle accident Monday afternoon in Marion County claimed the life of a woman from Knoxville. The Iowa State Patrol reports 37-year-old Holly Jo Hegwood died at the hospital, after she lost control of the 1999 Suzuki cycle she was riding, and crashed into a pickup truck. The accident happened just before 3 p.m. Monday, on the city’s west side. The driver of the pickup was not injured.
(Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)