It was a beautiful sunny day Saturday when friends Bre-Anne Danielle Coleman and Sharon resident Sean McDonnell decided to head out on their motorcycles for a ride through Simcoe County.
Little did they know this would be their last ride together, as McDonnell, 35, was tragically killed by a driver now charged with impaired on Yonge Street later that evening while riding home.
Coleman and McDonnell had been friends for the past 12 years. Just last June, they took the motorcycle training course at Georgian College together and had become riding buddies.
On Saturday morning, Coleman invited McDonnell for a ride around the Simcoe-Muskoka area. The pair travelled through Barrie and met up with seven other riding friends at Ultramar on West Street North in Orillia, before heading north for a loop around Bracebridge prior to heading back home in the late afternoon.
“On our way home, he said he had the most amazing day and he could not wait to do it again. He thanked me for inviting him out,” remembered Coleman.
Her last words to him were, “See you tomorrow,” as they parted ways. She headed back home to Innisfil and he to Sharon.
On the way home, McDonnell was struck on his blue Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle by a northbound white Hyundai Veloster travelling north on Yonge, just north of 9th Line in Bradford.
McDonnell died at the scene.
The driver of the Veloster, Jolene Freire of Holland Landing, 37, is charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death, according to South Simcoe Police.
“He was a puzzle piece in our group of friends and he will be missed so much ... not only as my riding buddy but one of my best friends,” said Coleman. “My heart hurts for his family. He meant a lot to a lot of people. Even if you met him once, he left an impact.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with memorial costs.
