Patriot Guard Rider Struck In Intersection
St. Louis – Reports of an accident involving a funeral procession were confirmed Monday afternoon. Patriot Guard Riders motorcyclists were escorting the funeral procession to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery when one Guard Rider was struck and killed while on his motorcycle.
The Patriot Guard Rider was identified Monday night as Mark Schroeder, 64, of South St. Louis County. Schroeder died at a local hospital, police said.
According to R.J. Bailey, Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders, their group escorts veterans’ funeral processions. Bailey said that Schroeder was the group leader for Monday’s procession.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that the crash happened around 1:30 in the afternoon as the procession was nearing its destination.
Fellow Ride Captain, Rick Kroeger, 64, was holding traffic at the intersection when Schroeder was hit.
“I made eye contact with the woman, stopped, put my hand up, and said ‘hold’” said Kroeger, explaining the standard intersection procedure.
Despite the instruction, the woman went through the intersection, and T-boned Schroeder.
Captain Confirms Rider Died At Hospital
Schroeder, himself an Army veteran, was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Schroeder leaves behind a wife and two children.
Kroeger said he met Schroeder about 6 years ago when Kroeger joined the group. “He was dedicated to the Patriot Guard mission.” Kroeger told STL Today.
Communities on Facebook have begun to honor Mark Schroeder and raise awareness of funeral procession courtesy by changing their profile pictures.
Plea For Drivers To Be Aware Of Funerals
As he was mourning the loss of his friend, Kroeger added that he sees near-misses almost every funeral.
“They just cut through the intersection because they’re on their phone texting.” Kroeger said.
It is unclear whether the driver of the vehicle in Monday’s accident was driving distracted. St. Louis County police were working to reconstruct and investigate the crash.
An already-somber day should never have to be compounded with a second tragedy. Please be aware of funeral processions, who will need to block intersections in order to move all of the cars forward.
If a loved one dies after being involved in a motorcycle accident, give us a call at personal injury attorneys are experts in the field. While no amount of money can bring your loved one back, we can help you recover medical bills, lost wages, and more. Our goal is to make the grieving process easier on you as you move forward.
