A loving husband and father of three young children died after a collision involving a car and motorcycle in Londonderry.
An avid motorcyclist, CJ Kjellman, 34, was riding his motorcycle into work, wearing all his gear, including a helmet, when the collision occurred.
Londonderry Police received multiple 911 calls reporting the accident on May 22 at 7:56 a.m. Officers and the members of the Londonderry Fire Department responded to the scene on Commerce Avenue, in front of FedEx.
Kjellman was unresponsive, and a medical helicopter was called to the scene. When his condition worsened, Kjellman was rushed by ambulance to Elliot Hospital in Manchester. He succumbed to his injuries at 9:11 a.m., according to police.
“His helmet clasp malfunctioned when he hit – it fell off, and he was left powerless. He suffered massive head and chest trauma, and, I’m told, went into cardiac arrest immediately. I am told he felt no pain and that he passed away almost immediately,” CJ’s wife, Misty Kjellman, wrote on the GoFundMe page she set up for her family in the wake of the accident. “The ambulance crew and the emergency room doctors worked so hard to try and get him back.”
Neither speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in the accident. The operator of the 2007 Honda Accord that collided with Kjellman’s motorcycle was not injured and is fully cooperating with the investigation, according to police.
“He was wearing his full gear and driving as safe as always,” Misty Kjellman said.
Although she was uncomfortable setting up the GoFundMe page, which raised $18,530 from 125 people in just one day, Kjellman said many friends and members of the community “have been pleading to help.”
The family was to close on a new home in three weeks.
Kjellman, a stay-at-home-mom to the couple’s three young children, set up the GoFundMe page for her children and their future.
“He was our rock and the best man I ever knew. He was the best father in the world and his children will miss him dearly. I will never recover from losing him,” she wrote.
To make a donation to the Kjellman family, visit “Handling Life After CJs Loss” at www.gofundme.com.
The Londonderry Tactical Accident Reconstruction Team is in charge of the ongoing investigation of the accident, and police ask that any witnesses who have not already spoken with police contact Det. Sgt. Adam Dyer or Officer Brian Allaire at 432-1118.