By Bruce Karnick [email protected] The freedom of two wheels involves a lot of responsibility for both the driver of the motorcycle and other drivers around them. Riding a motorcycle is a choice …
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By Bruce Karnick
The freedom of two wheels involves a lot of responsibility for both the driver of the motorcycle and other drivers around them. Riding a motorcycle is a choice millions of people make daily, knowing that there are extra dangers involved. You hop on expecting to return home safely. The sad reality is, there are so many things that influence that thought process, many of which are beyond the control of the rider.
When people say ‘watch for motorcycles’, it is meant to be a reminder far more important than that. Watch for motorcycles means, stay off your phone, drive safely, and pay attention to your surroundings.
The Minnesota State Patrol incident report states the accident happened at 1:34 p.m. Sunday afternoon. According to the report, Jeremy Joseph Hackbarth, age 43 of Hastings was riding a 2007 Harley Davidson cruiser at the time of the accident.
Hackbarth was traveling West on Interstate 694 at the split for highway 100 south when an unidentified vehicle slowed and cut across traffic from the right lane of West Interstate 694 to the right lane of South Highway 100. This motion caused a series of vehicles, including a large semi to move to farther left lanes to avoid a collision. The driver of the motorcycle attempted to avoid a collision with these vehicles, lost control, and was throw from the Harley Davidson.
Hackbarth was not wearing a helmet and no alcohol was involved. He was taken to North Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Details of the vehicle that caused the accident were not known as of press time.
The above information was obtained from the State Patrol report as of 10:55 a.m. on Monday, March 17th.
Additional information obtained from sources close to the family indicate that Hackbarth is an organ donor and that his body is being kept medically viable until matches can be found. May the knowledge of Hackbarth’s gifts of life saving organs to complete strangers ease the burden and sadness of his loss for friends and family members.
Jeremy Hackbarth
