Family of young father killed in motorcycle crash speaks out
The family of a young father of three killed in a crash this week is speaking out about what happened.
“You know Jake, he just had a great heart, was fun to be around, and was loved, I’ll miss him,” said Tom Lutzker, the father of Jacob Lutzker, who died on Wednesday afternoon after a pickup truck crashed into his motorcycle on Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.
Jacob, who went by Jake, was wearing a helmet.
“From what we understand there wasn’t any pain it was pretty instantaneous,” said Tom Lutzker.
Jacob Lutzker was married and was raising three sons ages three, six, and nine.
He lived his whole life in the desert and went to Palm Springs High School. After school he joined the army and served his country until he was medically discharged.
At the time of the accident, Jacob was heading to work at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs where he had a job as an engineer. He was the sole bread winner for his family. His coworkers set up a crowd funding account to cover funeral expenses.
“I was impressed by what a good quality of people they are, I’m really glad he was able to claim them as friends,” said Tom Lutzker.
Jacob’s friends and family agree that stretch of Indian Canyon is too dangerous.
“There are people that are often going above the speed limit and there is cross traffic, and they are just not paying attention, so the city really needs to look at it or Cal Trans, somebody needs to look at it and add some safety measures to that portion of the road,” said Judith Salkin who knew Jacob his entire life.
“I think probably some control devices or stop signs further down the road to get people to slow down, the traffic light at that intersection and maybe a road barrier between the north and southbound lanes,” said Tom Lutzker, when asked what could be done to make the road safer.
Currently no charges have been placed on the driver of the pickup truck. Jacob’s father Tom has a message for the man who was behind the wheel.
“I don’t blame you, I know it was an accident and if you are any kind of a human being, I know you feel as bad about this as the rest of us,” said Lutzker.
Jacob passed away at Desert Regional Medical Center, the same hospital his father and grandfather worked at one point in their lives, and the same hospital his sons were born in.
The family is having a public viewing is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 8 , 2015 at Wiefels and Son Mortuary, Palm Springs. A funeral service will be held at the mortuary at 9 a.m. Friday, October 9 , 2015, followed by interment at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City.
