Motorcyclist, passenger identified in Eau Claire fatal crash
Two Butler County men riding on a motorcycle were killed Sunday, June 11, after a collision with a pickup truck on North Washington Street in Eau Claire.
Zachary J. McGregor, 32, of West Sunbury, and Caleb A. Kiely, 31, of Petrolia, died from injuries suffered in the crash, state police said.
Police said the crash occurred at 5:57 p.m., as McGregor was driving south on North Washington Street on a Harley-Davidson Street Glide with Kiely as his passenger.
McGregor lost control of the motorcycle, causing it to fall onto its side and slide into the northbound lane, police said. The motorcycle then struck a Ram 2500 truck, driven by Jodi M. Miller, 51, of Emlenton.
The crash report indicated McGregor and Kiely were pronounced dead at the scene by Emlenton EMS.
Miller suffered injuries and was not taken to a hospital, according to documents.
Numerous posts could be seen on social media offering condolences to the McGregor and Kiely families.
Kaici McBride, who said she was friends with Kiely for 15 years, told the Eagle on Monday that they attended Moniteau High School together and that he was an incredible coworker, friend, brother, son and grandson.
“(Kiely) was the life of every party, even when he wasn’t trying to be. A radiant, adventurous energy that was impossible to ignore,” she said. “He was giving, constantly going above and beyond to help anyone that he could ... He was hilarious. Constantly making a joke out of everything to make people laugh, even if the timing was inappropriate.”
Fire and rescue agencies from both Eau Claire and Emlenton responded to the crash, blocking off the street and detouring motorists.