Terrible news today:
Mack Motzko died in a car accident last evening.
ADMIN: I broke this out from the original thread to it's own thread.
That is every parents worst fear. How aweful.
Ish. News like this has always been heartbreaking, but it definitely hits different since the kiddo came around a couple years ago.
Feeling terrible for them.
Terrible news today:
Mack Motzko died in a car accident last evening.
So sad.
That is heartbreaking news. Thoughts and condolences to the Motzko family and those in the hockey community who are close to them. 
This is just tragic.
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
Simply terrible. All the best to the Motzko family. Cannot fathom.
I felt sick when I saw the story. Thoughts are with Coach Motzko and his family. ?
So heartbreaking. I can't even fathom losing a child. Thoughts to Bob and his family
Oh Lordie this is awful news. I can't imagine the thought of losing either of the boys who are within a few years of age of Mack.
Beautiful but absolutely crushing photo.
https://twitter.com/jessrmyers/status/1419449450750164992?s=21
That’s brutal news. Obviously prayers out to the Motzko family. No parent should have to go through losing their child, no matter how old.
Sounds like the other passenger was also killed….a 24 year old. The driver is 51 and has critical injuries. Sounds like alcohol and speed were factors.
We have two families suffering through losses of children.
Sounds like alcohol and soled were factors.
I am not getting what "soled" means?
Sounds like alcohol and soled were factors.
I am not getting what "soled" means?
I assume "speed".
Like so many here, I've felt sick since I heard the news. No parent should have to go through such hell.
RIP to Mack, healing wishes to the Motzkos.
No words.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
My daughter gets her drivers license this week. This stuff makes me want to cancel that appointment and wrap my kids in bubble wrap because the thought of going through this is beyond anything I could fathom. Holy cow.
When I was 20 years old, I thought I was 10 feet tall and bullet proof. I agree with what others have said, no parent should ever have to bury a child.
This event again shows that tomorrow is never given. Heart goes out to the Motzko family.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Sounds like alcohol and soled were factors.
I am not getting what "soled" means?
speed.
Autocorrect is often worse than whatever I mistype on my cell phone.
Yeah. The typing on a smart phone leaves something to be desired.
Re: Mack Motzko I am incapable of the words to express my grief for the family.
when I heard the name of the driver it scared me for a moment, its still scary but not the Blue I was thinking of
https://www.startribune.com/driver-identified-in-fatal-orono-crash-along-lake-minnetonka/600081536/
Aloha!
I am about the same age as coach Motzko. I tear up thinking about this tragedy. I can not fathom what these two families are going through. Please pray for all those involved.
Sounds like a guy trying to show off to a bunch of 20 somethings. Really sad story.
When I was 20 years old, I thought I was 10 feet tall and bullet proof. I agree with what others have said, no parent should ever have to bury a child.
Imagine how much growing up Mack's siblings have had to do in the past couple of days. I may have had to bury one of my high school classmates while still in high school, but it's a hell of a lot different when it's a family member, especially an immediate family member.
Knowing the type of guy tBob is, I wish like hell I could do more than just offer condolences.
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When I was 20 years old, I thought I was 10 feet tall and bullet proof. I agree with what others have said, no parent should ever have to bury a child.
Imagine how much growing up Mack's siblings have had to do in the past couple of days. I may have had to bury one of my high school classmates while still in high school, but it's a hell of a lot different when it's a family member, especially an immediate family member.
Knowing the type of guy tBob is, I wish like hell I could do more than just offer condolences.
The Gopher Rubes page on Facebook is taking donations to send plants (not flowers) to the family.
Haven't confirmed, but I heard today from a friend that the other young man in the car was Mack's sister's boyfriend.
I have known too many in my life who have lost a child. There is never "getting over it." It's a grief that families carry around always and simply learn to live with.
Haven't confirmed, but I heard today from a friend that the other young man in the car was Mack's sister's boyfriend.
I have known too many in my life who have lost a child. There is never "getting over it." It's a grief that families carry around always and simply learn to live with.
https://twitter.com/JessRMyers/status/1419829484656767006
Lot of details in here by Jess -- I know these details surrounding the crash shouldn't matter, but so many of them brought out some feels.
The driver lives in a $5-$6M home and was showing off his $200k Bentley to these kids.
Schuneman was supposed to already have flown home, but extended his stay for another night out with friends.
Crazy, that both wearing their seatbelts died, one at the scene and one later, but the driver, thrown from his vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt, survived.
Haven't confirmed, but I heard today from a friend that the other young man in the car was Mack's sister's boyfriend.
I have known too many in my life who have lost a child. There is never "getting over it." It's a grief that families carry around always and simply learn to live with.
I read that too (the other guy being the boyfriend of Mack’s sister).
I’m curious to know how the kids knew the driver; is he a friend or family, or did they just climb in the car with a random guy because he offered them a private party and a ride in a cool car?
It’s all just such a tragedy.
Haven't confirmed, but I heard today from a friend that the other young man in the car was Mack's sister's boyfriend.
I have known too many in my life who have lost a child. There is never "getting over it." It's a grief that families carry around always and simply learn to live with.
I read that too (the other guy being the boyfriend of Mack’s sister).
I’m curious to know how the kids knew the driver; is he a friend or family, or did they just climb in the car with a random guy because he offered them a private party and a ride in a cool car?
It’s all just such a tragedy.
Here's the text of a Twitter thread from Lou Raguse at KARE-11 from about 1:30 pm yesterday (Monday)
According to Orono Police, the two young men killed were Sam Schuneman, 24, and Mack Motzko, 20. The 51-year-old driver was hurt and is at North Memorial Hospital. PD says the driver was the only one not seatbelted and was ejected from the car.
KARE 11 is not naming the driver since he is now subject to a criminal investigation but has not yet be charged.
Orono Police says "alcohol and speed appear to be contributing factors"
Rashed Elbaba, a friend of Sam Schuneman's told me they were drinking at Maynards that night, and the 51yo invited the group of about 10 people to his house for a small party. At one point, 51yo wanted to show his car--a 2017 Bentley Flying Spur--to Schuneman and Motzko.
Some friends started to get nervous when the 51yo and the two young men were gone from the party for a while. Elbaba, the friend I spoke to did not realize they had gone for a drive. When they heard sirens down the road, they eventually realized it involved their friends.
If you're any of the parents I wonder it it's call they can do to not want to go medieval on the driver. Yes I realize the kids made a bad choice to get into the car in the first place, but [sigh].....
I saw that story too - it leads you to believe they just accepted an offer from a stranger at a bar - but I was just curious if there was some backstory on knowing him. How often do 20 year olds decide it’s a cool thing to go party with a 50 year old they don’t know. Yes, I realize kids do dumb things.
I just broke this topic out from the Gopher Offseason thread.... I think it deserves it's own thread.
Do not like how this board is run?
Get your own board!
♃
I saw that story too - it leads you to believe they just accepted an offer from a stranger at a bar - but I was just curious if there was some backstory on knowing him. How often do 20 year olds decide it’s a cool thing to go party with a 50 year old they don’t know. Yes, I realize kids do dumb things.
It will be interesting to find out if there is a prior connection to the guy, but I can see the offer to party at a $5m+ house with fancy cars (and likely a nice liquor selection) enough to entice young adults to come over. Sure seems like the guy was trying to show off…
If the details above are true, the driver's problems have only just begun.
If the details above are true, the driver's problems have only just begun.
I think Maynards might have some issues too.
The driver sounds like a Jay Leno wannabe. "You like my cool cars? Do want to go for a ride in one?"
I would hope that the people he invited to his house included folks closer to his age and not just college-aged kids. Sure I myself have a connection with the Hockey Cheer Team, but only so far as it's a tradition that dates back to when I was 22 and even when I was 28, I knew that there were boundaries I can't cross and have to be clear that I don't expect anything in return for the roses and things, so when I see this 51 year old trying to show off to a couple of 20-somes when he got them killed, all I can think is "WTF?".
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If the details above are true, the driver's problems have only just begun.
I think Maynards might have some issues too.
Question will be whether the driver was over-served. It will take some time for toxicology screens to be run before that starts up.
Maybe it just seems this way, but why is it the drunk driver always survives the crashes they cause?
Maybe it just seems this way, but why is it the drunk driver always survives the crashes they cause?
I know what you are saying, but I am going to withhold all judgement until I have all the facts. Maybe he was sober (I understand likely he was not) but all parties were of age to make their own decisions. I realize this may sound callous and it probably is, but I approach a lot of stuff like the courts would I feel and Ski-U-Mah Law eluded to this is just beginning.
Updated article from StarTribune regarding the driver:
From the article:
"Blue told police at the scene of the crash that he was "guilty" and had been drinking at Maynard's Restaurant in Excelsior, according to a search warrant."
"Witnesses told authorities that Blue was driving "in excess of 100 mph in a posted 40 mph zone around a curve on a hill."
"While authorities have not said how Blue was connected to the victims, a friend who was at a party with them at Blue's lakeshore home offered an account of the time leading up to the crash.
Rashed Elbaba said he and his friends first met Blue that night. Blue invited about 10 to 12 of his friends in their early to mid-20s to his house for a party after they were out at Maynard's earlier that day.
He thought Motzko and Schuneman were touring the house or garage, where they discovered Blue had a "cool car and wanted to check it out."
"in excess of 100 mph in a posted 40 mph zone around a curve on a hill."
Pretty much all you need to know. Good gawd.
Updated article from StarTribune regarding the driver:
From the article:
...
Rashed Elbaba said he and his friends first met Blue that night. Blue invited about 10 to 12 of his friends in their early to mid-20s to his house for a party after they were out at Maynard's earlier that day.
He thought Motzko and Schuneman were touring the house or garage, where they discovered Blue had a "cool car and wanted to check it out."
If they were at the guy's house AFTER leaving Maynard's, Maynards could claim he wasn't over-served in the bar. (Unless there are witnesses to claim he was obviously impaired while in the bar).
Updated article from StarTribune regarding the driver:
From the article:
...
Rashed Elbaba said he and his friends first met Blue that night. Blue invited about 10 to 12 of his friends in their early to mid-20s to his house for a party after they were out at Maynard's earlier that day.
He thought Motzko and Schuneman were touring the house or garage, where they discovered Blue had a "cool car and wanted to check it out."
If they were at the guy's house AFTER leaving Maynard's, Maynards could claim he wasn't over-served in the bar. (Unless there are witnesses to claim he was obviously impaired while in the bar).
It will be messy, and maybe Maynard's escapes harm, but in the end the guy is in huge trouble and may go to prison for it. Driving 100 mph on that road is tantamount to waving a loaded gun around with your finger on the trigger. Extreme negligence.
Not that it matters, but if witnesses see a car speed by, how do they know it was going in excess of 100?
The whole situation seems creepy and quickly became tragic.
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Not that it matters, but if witnesses see a car speed by, how do they know it was going in excess of 100?
They don't; it's a guess. But it doesn't really matter because with the forensics they'll do, they'll be able recreate the circumstances of the crash with a lot of specificity.