A woman turned her car into the path of three motorcycles carrying family members out for a midday ride in central Minnesota, causing a collision that killed two of the riders, authorities said.
Couple out for motorcycle ride with family members killed when driver turns in front of them
July 9, 2018 at 2:00AM
The wreck occurred about 11:20 a.m. Saturday along Hwy. 23 in Roseville Township, roughly 20 miles northeast of Willmar, the State Patrol said.
The couple operating the first two motorcycles, both from St. Cloud, were dead at the scene. The patrol identified them as James L. Young Jr., 42, and Michelle L. Young, 44. They were married in October.
His father, James L. Young, 61, was driving the third motorcycle and was in critical but stable condition at St. Cloud Hospital. The older Young's passenger was his daughter, Melissa A. Mayo, 38, who suffered noncritical injuries. Both are from Sauk Rapids.
They were taken to a hospital in Paynesville. He was transferred to St. Cloud Hospital via air ambulance.
The father and son "were just heading home from riding together like they loved to do," said Steph Young, Mayo's sister.
An online fundraising page set up to cover funeral and other expenses says James Young Jr. and Michelle Young have five children ranging in age from 12 to 22.
Family member Kaysie Worm, who started the GoFundMe page, pleaded on Facebook for drivers to slow down and pay attention when they're behind the wheel, and to be extra watchful for motorcycles.
It's not known why the driver turned in front of the motorcycles.
According to the patrol:
Christina M. Knutson, 21, of Bricelyn, Minn., driving her car westbound on Hwy. 23, was turning left onto 160th Street near Hawick when she was struck by two of the three eastbound motorcycles.
The third motorcycle "lay down on the roadway" to avoid hitting the car, a patrol statement read.
None of the motorcyclists was wearing a helmet, according to the State Patrol.
Knutson and her passenger, Youssef Abdul-Nour Chamma, 24, were not injured. They both had on seat belts.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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