An Indiana pastor killed in a motorcycle crash on Tuesday had just finished visiting another pastor in hospital who had been involved in a motorcycle accident.
The two pastors were leaders at the same church, and were best friends. Albert Ganser was taken to the hospital Tuesday morning with serious injuries after his accident, and Arthur Heminger visited him before being killed on his way to a church service Tuesday afternoon.
The men were pastors at Biker Church of the Heartland, and had ridden together for ten years.
According to WSBT-TV, Ganser, a pastor at the church's Mishawaka location, was on his way to work when he was involved in an accident near Mayflower Road and Indiana 23 in South Bend. He was taken to Memorial Hospital with a collapsed lung, a broken vertebrae, and broken ribs.
Heminger visited his friend before heading to Biker Church of the Heartland in Culver to preach at 3:30 p.m., and was involved in an accident at the intersection of Oak and Quinn Roads near Lakeville.
Lt. Matt Blank of the St. Joseph County Police Department reported that Heminger died as a result of his injuries.
Church of the Heartland Senior Pastor Heath Hiatt called Heminger's death a tragedy, and described the 52-year-old as an amazing person who loved life. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and daughters Nancy and Candaice.
Ganser remains in the intensive care unit but is expected to make a complete recovery. Pastor Hiatt said that the passing of Ganser's best friend and riding partner is a great loss.
"It's hard to explain to someone how close you get when you ride together," Hiatt told the Lincoln Wright South Bend Tribune.
A funeral service will be held Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. at Biker Church of the Heartland in Plymouth.
