A Saturday evening ride in south St. Louis County ended in tragedy when 60-year-old motorcyclist Dion Schaffer was fatally injured in a collision with a pickup near the intersection of Lemay Ferry Road and Telegraph Road. Officers arrived shortly after 6 p.m., and first responders took Schaffer to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Police said the pickup's driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
According to First Alert 4, the St. Louis County Police Department said a preliminary timeline shows Schaffer was traveling north on Lemay Ferry Road when his motorcycle struck a pickup that was turning left from Telegraph Road into the southbound lanes. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
What investigators will examine
Crash reconstruction teams are expected to study vehicle positions, skid marks, signal timing and any available camera or cellphone video, along with witness statements, to determine whether the turning driver failed to yield. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash-avoidance research lists "left turn across path" as a priority pre-crash scenario for motorcyclists, a pattern that often becomes a central focus for reconstruction teams.
Local safety context
State transportation data shows motorcycle fatalities remain a major concern for safety officials, even as the numbers rise and fall from year to year. MoDOT's January 2026 Tracker notes a recent decline in motorcycle fatalities but underscores ongoing efforts, from helmet outreach to intersection engineering, to reduce deaths among vulnerable road users.
First Alert 4 first reported the crash. St. Louis County police have not announced any charges in connection with the collision. We will update this story if investigators release more information.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has video is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department non-emergency line at 636-529-8210. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
