On May, 16 2021, Jeremy Hackbarth (my dad) was in a fatal motorcycle accident.

A link to the article: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/05/17/motorcyclist-fatally-thrown-from-bike-trying-to-avoid-crash-in-i-694/?utm_campaign=true_anthem&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=social&fbclid=IwAR0jPuH3SB94tRokPy77ltHgUQBtIi-WIQnwrlDV9Y2TJ1GvXI7rnnEDNsU


In an attempt to avoid a crash, he laid his bike down and was thrown from the bike as it flipped. The driver who caused the accident did not stop, but a Semi driver who was involved in the shuffle of traffic did. The Semi has a dash camera that officers say show my dad lay down his bike but because it was all an accident and his bike didn’t crash into another vehicle- they aren’t looking to charge anyone for the incident. 

On May 17th he was pronounced brain dead by his doctors and they began talking to us about organ donation. He had wanted to be a donor so of course our family wanted to honor his wishes. The team began running test and finding matches. We were notified 4 hours in advance that they would take him into surgery at 3:30am on May 19th. He got to donate his heart, his liver, his kidneys (separated and given to 2 different people) and his soft tissues that will go on to help around 75 people. Because of Covid restrictions we had to fight tooth and nail for family to come and say goodbye. 

As his next of kin, I will be inheriting everything he left behind including immense amounts of debt. I may be forced to sell his estate to cover medical expenses, debt, and to pay his ex wife what he had owed her after the divorce (there is a lien on his house). I have never had to lay anyone to rest and I had no idea it would be so costly and so complicated. I don’t want to sell everything, as it would mean everything to me to keep my childhood home and all the memories we had there. 

I have always had a hard time asking for help, but my family and I could really use it. If you know my dad, then I know he has likely touched your life in profound ways. Everything he did, he did BIG and if he loved you, then he loved you BIG. He was the most selfless, generous, kind, and humble man I have ever known. This life will never be the same without him and his absence makes this world a worse place. 

I am hoping to have more information on when his service will be in the coming days and will share those details with you as promptly as possible. 

Thank you for considering donating, and for all of the love and support during this excruciating time.