PATOKA — An early Saturday morning crash on U.S. 51 has claimed the life of a 47-year-old Salem business owner who was traveling north of Patoka on his motorcycle.

Kevin Koenegstein and his wife Mary, owners of M and K Insurance Agency, were riding separate motorcycles on their way to visit family in northern Illinois, when around 7 a.m. a southbound SUV drifted into their northbound lane. Both husband and wife reportedly attempted to avoid the SUV, but the SUV still struck Kevin nearly head on. Karen was not struck and was not injured.

According to reports, after colliding with Kevin Koenegstein, the SUV ran off the road and rolled into the roadside ditch. The driver of the SUV was taken from the scene to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia for treatment of injuries. The name of the SUV driver has not yet been released.

Kevin Koenegstein was being transported to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital by Patoka EMS, but died en-route and was pronounced dead at the hospital from multiple internal injuries.

Illinois State Police are handling the accident and brought in experts to reconstruct the crash and determine what happened.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies also responded.