Oyens, Iowa — A Sunday afternoon motorcycle ride turned tragic. Members of the First Reformed Church of Boyden were on their second annual “Motorcycle Sunday Ride” traveling from Boyden to Le Mars when one of their members lost control of his motorcycle on county road K-64 about a mile and a half north of Oyens. The accident happened at about 12:20 Sunday afternoon.
Plymouth County authorities say they responded to the scene of a motorcycle crash on County Road K64, near the intersection with 150th Street. When Emergency Services personnel arrived on scene they found a single victim on the roadway.
Witnesses say the motorcyclist apparently got too close to the edge of the pavement, his motorcycle dropped off the pavement, and the operator was thrown from the bike when he tried to re-enter the roadway from the shoulder, causing him to lose control. The motorcycle’s operator has been identified by Plymouth County authorities as 67-year-old David Poppen of Boyden, who is said to be the church’s pastor.
Poppen was transported from the scene by Mercy One AirCare to Mercy One in Sioux City, where authorities say he remains in critical condition as of mid-morning Monday.
Responding the accident were the Oyens Fire Department and Ambulance, along with the Le Mars Ambulance Service and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
A member of the group says nearly 15 to 20 motorcycles, along with family members following in cars, were on their way to Le Mars to visit the Wells Visitor’s Center and Ice Cream Parlor to enjoy ice cream.
There is no word on whether Poppen was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident.
Dennis Morrice of KLEM Radio in Le Mars contributed to this story.
