Funds Raised To Cover Funeral for Motorcyclist Hit By Semi

COOK COUNTY, IL — Funds are being raised for the family of a 23-year-old motorcyclist who was thrown from his motorcycle while merging onto Interstate 90 earlier this month and was his hit by a semi. Matthew Studinger of Studginer was taken to a suburban hospital following the July 15 collision where he was pronounced dead.

Now, a family friend, Brandi McDonald, has set up a GoFundMe to help Studinger's family following the tragedy. She says the money will go toward funeral expenses and allow the family to take off from work to grieve their son without having to worry about a loss of income, according to a GoFund Me.

As of Thursday, the GoFundMe has raised $3,200 and has a goal of raising $10,000. McDonald describes Studinger's family as "one of the most families you could ever meet." His mother, Almanda Studinger, owns a salon and Studinger grew up as "the pastor's kid," according to his obituary and the GoFundMe.

Studinger was being remembered for his big heart.

"He always had joy with him wherever he went," McDonald wrote on a GoFundMe page. She added that he really did "give the shirt off his back for a homeless man."

"He would go without so others had what they needed," she wrote.

His obituary noted that he was adventurous, skydiving at age 18, and enjoyed going on walks in nature with "the girl of his dreams," according to his obituary.

• GoFundMe for Matthew Studinger: Donate Here

Studinger was merging onto eastbound I-90 from the ramp at Beverly Road at 1:27 p.m. on July 15 when his red Suzuki motorcycle lost control and Studinger was thrown into oncoming traffic. The driver of the semi that hit him, Mykhailo Demchenko, 28, of Sarasota, Florida, was not injured.

Studinger, of Carpentersville, was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he was pronounced dead two hours later, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

More via Studinger's GoFundMe

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