Family identify motorcyclist killed in Iowa City crash

IOWA CITY - Kelly Donovan said her son Jared 'had a warm, compassionate, loving nature” as well as 'tremendous insight and depth.”

'He was a real hugger,” said Donovan, 60, of Coralville. 'All of Jared's friends would love receiving one of his signature hugs. He was a kid, even when he was young in elementary school, if you were crying, he'd be the one to come up and put his arm around you. He was that kind of kid.”

Jared Donovan, 20, of Coralville, died Sunday when the motorcycle he was driving crashed in Iowa City, his mother said.

Iowa City police are investigating the crash and have not officially released the name of the victim.

According to a release from the Iowa City Police Department, officers were called to the intersection of Burlington and Gilbert Streets around 11:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of a single motor vehicle collision.

The driver of the motorcycle died at the scene, police said.

Kelly Donovan said her son was riding his motorcycle on Gilbert Street that Sunday evening.

She said her son's friends who witnessed the crash said he had been distracted by a car driving next to him and that the individuals inside might have been trying to talk to him.

Kelly Donovan said her son, who had been riding motorcycles for two years, lost control of the bike and slid into a utility pole. He was killed instantly.

'I'm not blaming anyone,” Kelly Donovan said. 'It was an accident. Accidents happen.”

Jared Donovan was an organ donor and his eyes were donated following his death, his mother said. He worked at the Coralville Hy-Vee and was taking online classes in exercise science. He was a 2015 graduate of Iowa City West High School.

'I loved him dearly,” Kelly Donovan said, adding it has become evident what her son meant to the people around him.

'He has left such an impact on so many lives,” she said. 'He will be a tremendous loss to his friends and family and anybody who knew him.”

Jared Donovan also is survived by his father Ed Donovan of Solon, as well as 14 aunts and uncles and 40 cousins, according to his obituary.

A celebration of life ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

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