A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle collision on a highway in Jefferson County Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

WINCHESTER, Kansas (WIBW) – A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash on a Jefferson County highway Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The accident was reported at 4:15 p.m. on Highway US-59, about one mile north of Highway K-16. The accident scene was about 3 miles west of Winchester or about 8 miles north of Oskaloosa.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when a 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was following a 2022 GMC Savana van northbound on US-59.

The patrol said the van slowed down to turn left into a private driveway.

The vehicles collided when the motorcycle attempted to overtake the van as it was turning left, police said.

The driver of the motorcycle, Michael J. Schecher, 59, of Horton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Schecher was wearing protective goggles but not a helmet at the time of the crash.

The driver of the GMC van, John G. Morris, 29, of Topeka, was uninjured. Police said Morris, who was alone in the van, was wearing a seatbelt.

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