Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Owner Killed
Many Central Florida residents are mourning the loss of the man who created Destination Daytona and helped turned bike week into an international attraction.
Bruce Rossmeyer was killed in a crash Thursday in Wyoming, on his way to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Rossmeyer is considered one of Daytona Beach's most prominent and influential businessmen and public figures, and Friday morning word of his death continues to spread. He died doing what he loved, riding his motorcycle.
"It's always sad when someone big like that dies," said Craig Tuttle, biker.
Wyoming Highway Patrol says Rossmeyer tried to pass a pickup truck pulling a trailer that was turning left off Highway 28 onto a dirt road when he smashed into the vehicle. Sgt. Stephen Townsend says the truck driven by 73-year-old Robert VanValkenburg of Rock Springs, Wyoming.
No other motorcycles were involved in the crash. Investigators say that Rossmeyer was not wearing a helmet.
Rossmeyer was on his way from Colorado to the big bike week event in Sturgis, South Dakota.
A friend, Grady Pfeiffer, told the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal that Rossmeyer planned to meet with a group of custom bike builders called the Hamsters in Thermopolis and then ride to Sturgis.
"It was going around on text messages. Everybody I talked to today already knew," said Kim Brockhaus, Kick Start Saloon.
Rossmeyer built Destination Daytona, a Harley-Davidson dealership that is called the largest in the world.
The 66-year old owned 13 Harley-Davidson dealerships in total and co-owned two Central Florida car dealerships. Drivers cannot miss the large billboards throughout Central Florida bearing his larger-than-life image.
Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Owner Killed - News Story - WFTV Orlando
Bruce Rossmeyer was killed in a crash Thursday in Wyoming, on his way to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Rossmeyer is considered one of Daytona Beach's most prominent and influential businessmen and public figures, and Friday morning word of his death continues to spread. He died doing what he loved, riding his motorcycle.
"It's always sad when someone big like that dies," said Craig Tuttle, biker.
Wyoming Highway Patrol says Rossmeyer tried to pass a pickup truck pulling a trailer that was turning left off Highway 28 onto a dirt road when he smashed into the vehicle. Sgt. Stephen Townsend says the truck driven by 73-year-old Robert VanValkenburg of Rock Springs, Wyoming.
No other motorcycles were involved in the crash. Investigators say that Rossmeyer was not wearing a helmet.
Rossmeyer was on his way from Colorado to the big bike week event in Sturgis, South Dakota.
A friend, Grady Pfeiffer, told the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal that Rossmeyer planned to meet with a group of custom bike builders called the Hamsters in Thermopolis and then ride to Sturgis.
"It was going around on text messages. Everybody I talked to today already knew," said Kim Brockhaus, Kick Start Saloon.
Rossmeyer built Destination Daytona, a Harley-Davidson dealership that is called the largest in the world.
The 66-year old owned 13 Harley-Davidson dealerships in total and co-owned two Central Florida car dealerships. Drivers cannot miss the large billboards throughout Central Florida bearing his larger-than-life image.
Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Owner Killed - News Story - WFTV Orlando
