Memorial to honor Columbia motorcyclist killed in hit and run

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A memorial will be held Tuesday to honor Skylar Maddox, the 25-year-old motorcyclist killed in a hit and run incident with an impaired driver on Dec. 1.

Gilbane Motorsports, where Maddox worked since April, announced a celebration of life ceremony will be held at Waves Cider Company on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. in a Facebook post.

Maddox was killed when he was thrown from his motorcycle on his way home to see his girlfriend after work.

The driver who hit him, 72-year-old Susan Hanel, has been arrested and is charged with driving while intoxicated causing the death of another, leaving the scene of an accident and armed criminal action.

Hanel told police she was taking methadone and Valium. Witnesses said Hanel was driving without headlights. She is set to appear in court on Wednesday.

Pete Walker, general sales manager at Mid-America Harley Davidson, said he expects a good turnout for the memorial ceremony.

"No matter what you're going to support another rider," Walker said. "You're going to support a ride for that person, so I expect a huge turnout for whenever that memorial ride is."

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with bills during their grieving.

"As much time as we spend in these shops, the people we work with are more of our family than the people who are actually our family," Walker said.

Gilbane Motosports has expressed on Facebook how difficult the past week has been for everyone at the shop. Employees and owners have taken time off to grieve.

"The shop will be closed the majority of the day on Tuesday as well to spend time with the family," the shop wrote on Facebook.

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