A family’s memorial motorcycle ride for a relative who died earlier this month ended in tragedy Saturday.
A Scipio man and his wife were killed after their motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in rural southwestern Bartholomew County, police said.
Motorcycle driver Travis James Setser, 45, died of blunt force trauma to the head and upper chest from the accident, which was reported at 12:48 p.m., according to Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting.
Travis Setser’s wife and passenger, Suzanne M. Setser, 51, suffered severe head trauma, severe lacerations and severe internal injuries, said Sgt. T.A. Smith of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
She was taken by StatFlight helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where she later died, according to family and friends’ posts on Facebook.
Saturday was Suzanne Setser’s birthday.
The family was participating in a memorial ride for Clayton Fowler, 27, of Seymour — Suzanne Setser’s son — who died July 10 at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour of a drug overdose.
The Setsers were being followed Saturday by Suzanne’s other son, Christian McVicker, on another motorcycle, Smith said.
The accident occurred near the intersection of county roads 850S and 400W, west of Interstate 65 near Waymansville.
Jonathon Findley, 37, Seymour, was driving a pickup truck northbound on 400 West, Smith said. As he approached the intersection of 850 South, Setser’s motorcycle pulled out in front of Findley while apparently attempting to cross 400 West, Smith said.
Witnesses say the pickup driver attempted to avoid the motorcycle by swerving to the center of the lane, but could not avoid striking it, Smith said.
Based on the sheriff’s department’s initial investigation, it does not appear that speed or alcohol were factors in the accident, Smith said.
