'He Was My Best Friend': Young Father Killed In Motorcycle Crash Remembered

A young father was killed in a head-on crash involving two motorcycles on March 7.

Two others were critically hurt in that wreck on the 21st Street Bridge over the Arkansas River.

27-year-old Jacob Kluding said I love you to his fiancé Sunday evening, went on a motorcycle ride and never came home.

"It's a never-ending nightmare that I'm never going to wake up from,” said Abby Johnson, Kluding’s fiancé. “She's never going to get to know her daddy."

Johnson said she, Kluding and their baby had the best day together before Kluding died.

Firefighters said Kluding and another motorcycle that had two people on it hit each other head on.

"I've always known for him to wear his helmet when he rode his bike, but he chose for this ride not to have his helmet on and it was just this one time, and that's all it took,” said Stephanie McConnell, Kluding’s mother.

McConnell said Kluding was the oldest of her five sons and enjoyed being with his family and riding motorcycles.

"That smile, he still had that same smile and those big eyes, and this world is just going to completely miss him," said McConnell.

His family hopes their heartbreak could remind others to be careful on the road.

He leaves behind a five-year-old son, Asher, and four-month-old daughter, Angela.

"He loved her more than anything, and he loved me, and I loved him, and he was my best friend,” said Johnson.

Family said police while have not told them what may have led to the crash, they have this message for everyone on the road.

"I don't want anybody else to lose their lives, whether it be put your helmet on, look twice before you go," said McConnell.

There will be a memorial service for Kluding on May 12 at 2 p.m. at Pickett Prairie Baptist Church in Sapulpa.

Then, next week in Ohio, he will be buried next to one of his grandmothers.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help his children. You can click here for more information.