CLAYTON COUNTY, IA — A motorcycle passenger was killed, and two others were seriously injured in a crash involving three motorcycles and a deer on Garber Road Saturday night.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m. while five riders on three Harley-Davidson motorcycles were traveling east on Garber Road, west of Kennedy Road. According to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, the lead motorcycle struck the deer, causing the second motorcycle to lose control while avoiding a collision. The third motorcycle managed to evade the deer without incident.
Kelley Knockel, 34, of Colesburg, was a passenger on the lead motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of that motorcycle, Joshua Knockel, 42, also of Colesburg, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Emplify Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The second motorcyclist, Mathew Witham, 58, of Guttenberg, also suffered serious injuries and was taken to Guttenberg Municipal Hospital. The third motorcycle, operated by Nicklas Rosenberger, 33, of Dubuque, had no injuries reported for him or his passenger, 39-year-old Selena Courtney-Puccio, also of Dubuque.
Emergency response included the Guttenberg Police Department, Guttenberg Ambulance Service, Mercy One Elkader Ambulance Service, and local fire and rescue teams. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.