CHRIS APONICK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, October 29, 2004 7:00 pm
Lincoln police were still searching Saturday for the driver and passenger of a stolen pickup that collided with a motorcycle, killing its driver.
Capt. Jim Thoms said the motorcyclist, Douglas A. Vaske, 35, of Waverly, was killed Friday night when his 2004 Kawasaki ZX-1OR struck the passenger side of a 2000 Ford F-150 in the intersection of 29th and O streets.
The pickup was reported stolen in Nashville, Tenn., about a year and a half ago, Capt. Allen Soukup said.
The truck, which was westbound on O Street, turned left in front of the eastbound motorcycle to go south onto South 29th Street, Thomas said.
The intersection is not controlled by a light or stop sign.
The truck's driver and the sole passenger left the accident scene on foot, Thoms said.
Vaske, who was riding alone, was wearing a helmet.
Her husband was an avid motorcyclist, said Vaske's wife, Kim. For 11 years, he rode, worked on and showed off his bikes.
"He always had a new bike," she said.
When the couple first dated, Douglas Vaske would take Kim down to 16th and O streets in Lincoln, which is where many motorcyclists display their two-wheeled (sometimes three-, even four-wheeled) passions on the weekend, she said.
Kim Vaske enjoyed those days when she'd ride with him.
"It was just an added perk" of being with Doug, she said.
Once Kim Vaske had the first of the couple's two children, she decided to leave the motorcycling to her husband.
Douglas Vaske was gentle with Hannah, 4, and Austin, 2.
When it came to discipline, he left the task to Kim.
"He'd much rather go play with them," she said.
On Friday night, Kim Vaske said, her husband had gone out for a ride about 9 p.m.
With lower temperatures predicted for next week, Vaske told his wife, it might be his last chance to ride before it got too cold.
He hated putting his motorcycle away for the winter, she said.
"He looked forward to spring every year."
Reach Chris Aponick at 473-7120 or caponick@journalstar.com.