Families remember men killed in Sunday motorcycle crash
The families of two men killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday, June 11, reflected on the legacies each left behind as kind, compassionate people.
Zachary McGregor, 32, of West Sunbury, and Caleb Kiely, 31, of Petrolia, died from injuries suffered in a crash on North Washington Street in Eau Claire.
The crash occurred around 6 p.m., when McGregor lost control of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and it slid into a pickup truck in the oncoming lane.
The families of two men killed in a motorcycle accident Sunday, June 11, reflected on the legacies each left behind as kind, compassionate people.
Zachary McGregor, 32, of West Sunbury, and Caleb Kiely, 31, of Petrolia, died from injuries suffered in a crash on North Washington Street in Eau Claire.
The crash occurred around 6 p.m., when McGregor lost control of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and it slid into a pickup truck in the oncoming lane.
Linette Kinney Hilliard, Kiely’s mother, described her son as an amazing, giving person.
“He always knew when someone was hurting. He was that person that, if you were hurting, he’d find a way to make you laugh,” she said. ”He’d recognize a need before they would say it.”
Born in Fort Campbell, Ky., Kiely spent a significant portion of his life in Butler County.
He was a graduate of Moniteau School District, attended Butler County Community College, and graduated from California University of Pennsylvania.
He had been employed at Tri-Rivers Orthopedic as well as Clarion River Brewing Company.
Through his jobs and his personality, Hilliard said, he made many friends.
“He had friends from children to people in their 90s,” she said. “He was the funniest person and could make anyone laugh. He has a great family and group of friends at Tri-Rivers, and I know they’re struggling right now.”
Hilliard said one of his best friends was his 14-year-old sister, Hayden.
“(Kiely) was her rock. He always looked out for her,” Hilliard said. “He recently took her to her first concert, Luke Combs. When his friend said she had a grandson that wanted to go, but she didn’t want to drive to Pittsburgh, (Kiely) told her, ‘Get the tickets and I’ll take him.’”
Hilliard said that was just one example of who her son was.
“Last week, (Kiely) had a co-worker who needed a ride to his sister’s graduation, (he) was off that day, so he drove him to Clarion. When the co-worker tried to pay him, he wouldn’t take the money and said, ‘I would never miss my sister’s graduation, I wouldn’t want you to either.”
Hilliard said her son leaves a legacy of friendship and laughter.
“I just want people to know what an absolute wonderful person he was. He had the ability to lift people up,” she said. “It’s absolutely incredible how many people he impacted.”
His obituary listed family, but also a “special care for a circle of friends.”
McGregor was the father of two children, son Tucker, 9, and daughter Sawyer, 7.
His oldest brother, Dave McGregor, said Zachary also is survived by his significant other, Ain Williams, and her daughter, Kairi, his brother, Jeremy, and his father, Jim.
“He was a good one,” Dave said of Zachary. “That man had a smile on his face always. He enjoyed life, even in the worst situation.”
“He was just always smiling,” said Lesley McGregor, Zachary’s sister-in-law. “He could be going through anything, you never know.”
Zachary graduated from Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School and worked for Iron Mountain, Dave said. His hobbies included hunting with his son and his side business of powder coating.
“Zach was a great father. That’s what he loved doing,” he added.
“He’d do anything for anybody,” Lesley said.
