'Charges are likely' in crash that killed two New Jersey motorcyclists

OFF THE WIRE
By JD Malone | The Express-Times 

Michael Zadoyko, left inset, and Keith Michaelson of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club died Friday in a Bangor crash while they were on their way to a viewing for a fellow club member.

Keith Michaelson was leading a pack of seven members of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club to a viewing at a funeral home Friday when a pickup truck headed the opposite way on Route 512 in Bangor rounded a bend and plowed into the group, according to one of the pack members.
"(The truck) hit our procession head on," said George Courtis, of Totowa, N.J., who was riding at the back of the pack. "(It) struck my brother Keith Michaelson so hard he exploded on impact."

Michaelson, 52, of West Milford, N.J., in Passaic County, and Michael Zadoyko, 47, of Pompton Lakes, N.J., in Passaic County, died at the crash, according to Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek. Lysek ruled that the men died of multiple blunt force trauma and that their deaths were accidental.
Police identified the driver of the pickup truck as John P. Heaney III, 49, of the first block of Jade Lane in Lopatcong Township. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said preliminary evidence suggests Heaney had been drinking and alcohol played a role in the crash.
"We're looking at it as a potential DUI case," Morganelli said. "Charges are likely."
Morganelli said a lot of work remains to be done on the crash and his office is assisting Bangor and state police in the investigation. Heaney remains free, Morganelli said. Attempts to reach Heaney on Saturday were unsuccessful.
When police arrived, Courtis said, Heaney identified himself as a former police officer. He retired on disability in April 2010 from the Plainfield (N.J.) Police Department, according to online records of the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits.
Courtis said the bikers were southbound on Route 512 and the pickup was northbound.

Courtis and police said two of the bikes burst into flames during the wreck. Courtis said two other riders slid into the flaming bikes -- one went through the fire, but the other was badly burned.
He added that he was the lone member of the procession unscathed. He said the injured were burned, had broken bones, road rash, a split heel and other injuries.
"It was a gruesome, gruesome scene," Courtis said. "Every time I shut my eyes my head is in video loop right now."
One of the biker victims was flown to an area hospital; the others were taken by ambulance, officials said. The crash occurred at 4:47 p.m. on Route 512 in Bangor, near the border with East Bangor.
All of the bikers were members of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, a group of "clean and sober" riders who were headed to a fellow member's viewing in Monroe County, according to a member of the club.
Courtis said the group was headed to the Donald N. Gower Funeral Home for the viewing of Ronald J. Oswald, a 65-year-old Bangor native who lived in Towamensing Township.
Ken Cordes, a member of the club who was at the funeral home, said several people drove from the wake to the crash scene Friday night. State police and Lysek met with three club members who ignored a road block trying to get to the crash site.
The Last Chance Motorcycle Club has about 60 members with chapters in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, Cordes said. The bikers involved in the crash belonged to the club chapter based in Greenwood Lake, N.Y., which is just over the New Jersey state line.

"We’re a clean and sober club," said Cordes, adding that members, or "patch-holders," had battled alcohol or drug addictions prior to their rehabilitations.

According to Cordes, Michaelson was a real estate agent and Zadoyko owned a home construction company. Michaelson is listed as a Century 21 agent on the agency's website. Zadoyko, who was president of the club's Greenwood Lakes chapter, is listed as the owner of Northeast Homeworks on his Facebook page.Courtis said as the pack rounded the corner, one of the guys ahead of him screamed, "Look out!" then Heaney's truck struck Michaelson's bike.

"It's very devastating," Courtis said. "Two families, absolutely devastating."

Cordes said Michaelson had two daughters and Zadoyko had two daughters and a son.
Courtis said the Last Chance club is for recovering addicts. Cordes said Michaelson and Zadoyko were the model for Last Chance members.
Michaelson on Wednesday "dropped everything" and spent an hour trying to arrange help for a friend of Cordes who has a severe alcohol problem, Cordes said.

"These guys are the Last Chance Motorcycle Club," said Cordes, of West Milford, N.J. "This is what they’re about, helping other addicts and alcoholics to get them on the right track."

Courtis said the club, and Michaelson and Zadoyko, preached about the importance of family."We're a family," Courtis said. "We camp together, we laugh together, we cry together."