Two die Monday in motorcycle crashes

By Roseann Moring

Published Jan. 28, 2008

Two men died from motorcycle crashes in Columbia Monday, police said.

Brian L. Ricketts, 23, and Mark E. Kompass, 22, died within 11 hours of one another on Monday morning.

Mr. Ricketts crashed his Honda motorcycle into a pole around 1:34 am on East Walnut.

These crashes are the second and third traffic fatalities of the year.

Columbia Police Officer Alan Hulett said a witness on the scene smelled alcohol in the air immediately after the crash.

Under Missouri law, motorcycle drivers must wear helmets. Hulett also said Mr. Rickett was wearing a half-bowl helmet, which is not considered acceptable headgear in Missouri. He said he does not know whether this contributed to the fatality.

Mr. Rickett was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Mr. Kemper was traveling north on Rock Quarry Road where his Buell motorcycle flipped end over end and ejected him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A news release stated excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

CPD Capt. Zim Schwartze said alcohol and excessive speed are the most common causes of traffic fatalities.

She said there were no traffic fatalities in January of last year. She said there were eight fatal crashes leading to eight traffic deaths in 2007, and none of them involved a motorcycle.