Man killed on freeway loved riding motorcycle
Eric Smith rode his beloved Harley across the country, from Chicago to Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin and beyond, once even making it to Canada.
“He loved riding his motorcycle,” said his close friend Tommie Triplett. “We done rode all over the U.S.”
Smith, 42, died early Friday after a car hit the back of his motorcycle on the northbound Bishop Ford Freeway in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the Far South Side, authorities said.
The father of two was thrown from his bike and was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The driver of the car was treated and released.
Illinois State Police said the accident remained under investigation and no charges have been filed.
Smith had been riding motorcycles for 20 years. He “fell in love with the sound and the look and just started riding,” said Triplett, who considered Smith a brother.
They met when Triplett was at a gas station, saw Smith ride by and flagged him down. “We got to talking and we was like, ‘Let’s go riding,’ ” he said.
In 2008, they founded the Chosen Breed Motorcycle Club, a group of enthusiasts who meet to ride three to four times a week, he said.
Smith had been riding with Triplett’s brother since about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. They had gotten dinner and watched the Bears game with some friends. At the end of the night, Triplett’s brother exited the highway at 115th Street to go home and Smith continued riding toward his Stony Island exit.
Smith’s girlfriend was in a car following the riders and witnessed the accident, Triplett said.
“He was a very happy person, the life of the party,” Triplett said. “He was a good guy, I can’t say one bad thing about him.”
Triplett said Smith worked as a truck driver for the city and was based at O’Hare International Airport. He was also a DJ and loved producing house music. He would frequently have people over to parties at his house so he could play music, Triplett said.
Smith is survived by two teenage children, Triplett said.