Don Guldenschuh Jr. loved motorcycles. He wore motorcycle gear. He featured his motorcycle in Facebook photos the way people feature their loved ones. He worked at Bunnell’s Monster Motorcycles. He posted peans to motorcycles and memes with all sorts of motorcycle humor.
“Life is short,” went the one that would turn out to be among his last a few days ago, “break the rules, forgive quickly, love honestly, love easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile.”
Saturday morning (Oct. 21), Guldenschuh died in a motorcycle crash.
The 26-year-old Bunnell resident was riding north on U.S. 1. It was about 1:30 a.m. He took the on-ramp at the intersection with I-95, likely on his way home. “For an unknown reason,” as the Florida Highway Patrol put it in a release, he lost control of his 2002 Harley-Davidson. The motorcycle overturned. Guldenschuh was ejected. He was not wearing a helmet. He died at the scene.
The crash took place just a few miles south of the Flagler-Volusia county line, so Volusia County law enforcement and paramedics responded to the scene, as did the Florida Highway Patrol, which continues to investigate.
“This man was so amazing,” Guldenschuh’s brother, distraught, wrote on his Facebook page. “I will always love you bro!! You will live on in my memory of you! I miss you bro! Forever the best brother Ever!” Just three years ago, the siblings had lost their father, also a motorcycle enthusiast, to cancer.
Guldenschuh’s appears to be one of three fatalities associated with Biketoberfest this year. Anthony Petro, 52, of Orlando, and Ronald Ackley, 61, of Eustis, who were riding in opposite directions on Tomoka Farms Road just hours before the Guldenschuh crash, were killed in a Friday afternoon head-on crash. It had officially been the 25th anniversary of the annual event.
The News-Journal reported earlier this year that “Close to 500 people have died in motorcycle accidents between 2005 and 2015 in Volusia and Flagler counties, and more than one-third of those accidents occurred during the area’s two major biking events,” Biketoberfest and Bike Week, in spring.
Jackie says
So sad… RIP. Fly high.💜
Sorry says
Sorry for your loss… Ride in heaven…
Jackie says
So sad. RIP. Fly high 💜
Kristine says
I want to send my condolences to his family. I have been through the same thing. My brother passed on October 22, 2002 after having a motorcycle crash on Belle Terre Pkwy, on his way home from Biketober Fest. I understand every thought and feeling you are going through.
I wish you all peace and strength to get through this hard time. Know that in time it gets easier. I will keep your family in my prayers.
Anonymous says
I would like to send my condolences to Donnie‘s family. I am so sorry for your loss I knew your son through a girl on my school bus. I was the bus driver of his girlfriends bus and he was in high school. He was such a sweet young man and always so kind and thoughtful . No words can tell you how sorry I was hear of his passing. God bless him and keep him in his loving arms.
Sw says
RIP