Family loses father after a tragic motorcycle crash in St Johns County

Jacksonville, FL — Christmas Day ended in tragedy for one family as their father was hit and killed while riding his motorcycle.

“He was something. He was one of a kind,” Sailor Cher said.

Cher said her friend, John Walbrun, 63, known to many as Wally, loved riding his bike.

“He died on his bike, man -- what else could a biker want?” asked Cher.

Investigators said Walbrun was riding his bike on State Road A1A when an SUV turned in front of him and collided with his motorcycle.

Cher said he lived about a block away from where the crash happened.

“I’m really just still in shock about it,” said Cher.

On Monday night, a father of two was killed as he was riding his motorcycle on the Crescent Beach Bridge. Troopers said he lost control. The crashes are not even a mile a apart.

“You try to figure out what happened and how it happened,” said Cher.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, there has been 20 crashes in this area in the last two years. One included a motorcycle.

Cher and her husband said this isn’t a particular dangerous area, but other drivers still need to be careful.

“Look twice, watch out for motorcycles,” Cher’s husband said.