Motorcyclist killed close to her home
JEFFERSON TWP — A 63-year-old township woman was killed not far from her home just after noon Tuesday, when she lost control of her motorcycle and crashed into trees along Saxonburg Road, authorities said.
Donna Bachman likely died on impact, said Butler County Deputy Coroner Larry Barr. He pronounced her dead at the scene. State police are investigating.
Emergency crews said Bachman suffered severe head, back and body injuries. She was wearing a helmet. No autopsy was performed but standard toxicology testing will be conducted, Barr said.
Drugs or alcohol were not suspected in the crash.
Bachman was headed north on Saxonburg Road and was going around a slight curve while approaching Burtner Road when the wreck happened.
“Evidently she came around that bend and lost it on the gravel and started going sideways,” Barr said, “and she went off the bike and went airborne.”
The 1996 Honda Shadow cycle struck trees. Bachman landed near her bike in the backyard of Cheryl Kretzer's home on Burtner Road.
Kretzer was at home working when she heard the crash.
“It sounded like a stick hitting a metal garbage can,” she said. “As soon as I heard that, I looked out the window and saw the bike and (Bachman).”
She was not moving, said Kretzer, who called 911.
The homeowner noticed Bachman's helmet and shoe in the backyard. The woman's purse was thrown all the way into the front yard.
A motorist traveling in the opposite direction on Saxonburg Road apparently saw the crash and also called 911, said Chris Ballina, chief of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company.
Bachman lived three blocks from where she died.
A portion of the road was closed for about 80 minutes while police conducted their investigation and a wrecker arrived to remove the badly damaged motorcycle.
