Joseph A. Morelli, 64 involved in fatal motorcycle crash

EASTPORT — According to Idaho State Police, on July 20, 2021, at 11:54 a.m. a two-motorcycle crash was reported on Highway 95 at milepost 530, eight miles south of Eastport.

Joseph A. Morelli, 64, of Boulder, Colo., was driving northbound on a red 2002 BMW motorcycle. Jan D. Van Der Kolk, 62, of Bonners Ferry, was also driving northbound on a black 2004 BMW R1150 motorcycle.

Van Der Kolk was slowing to make a right-hand turn off Highway 95. Morelli failed to slow down, rear-ending Van der Kolk, police reported.

Morelli was not wearing a helmet and succumbed to injuries on the scene, police reported. The next of kin has been notified. Van Der Kolk was flown to a regional hospital for treatment.

The road was blocked for approximately two hours for investigation and is ongoing.