Roma’s owner killed in motorcycle crash

Mark Galluzzo is seen at his restaurant, Roma’s Ristorante and Lounge in East Troy. Galluzzo died Friday night in a motorcycle vs. car crash in Eagle.
Mark Galluzzo is seen at his restaurant, Roma’s Ristorante and Lounge in East Troy. Galluzzo died Friday night in a motorcycle vs. car crash in Eagle.

By Tracy Ouellette

SLN Staff

 

Mark Galluzzo, owner of Roma’s Ristorante and Lounge in East Troy, was killed in a motorcycle crash Friday night in Eagle.

“It was such a shocker,” friend and East Troy Times photographer Eric Kramer said. “It’s so senseless.”

According to a press release from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department the call to report the crash came in at about 11:28 p.m. Aug. 5. The report stated a car traveling westbound on Highway NN, west of Jericho Drive in the Town of Eagle, tried pass another westbound car and struck a motorcycle. It was reported two motorcycles were travelling eastbound when the passing vehicle struck the lead motorcycle head on.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the driver of the lead motorcycle, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kramer confirmed it was his friend, 52-year-old Galluzzo, of Mukwonago,

Kramer said the driver of the second motorcycle, Town of East Troy Police officer Craig Knox, 46, Vernon, was driving the other motorcycle and suffered minor injuries.

“He has a broken ankle but he was much luckier than Mark,” Kramer said.

Knox was transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital by ambulance for non-life threatening injuries, according to the press release.

The driver of the vehicle traveling westbound, a 19-year-old woman from Palmyra, was transported by emergency medical services for minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Mukwonago Fire Department.

Lt. Phil Carini of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department said the crash is under investigation and he expected to have more information in about a week to 10 days.

See this week’s edition of the East Troy Times/News for more information.

21 Comments

  1. Its a real shame things like happen..Motorcycles are so Vunerable out there on the Roads..

    Both Motorcycles and Bike Riders need to be More VISABLE , I have seen some with Headlights on, Yellow or Organge Clothing or a Vest.. Bike riders should have a Strobe Light on both Front and Back of their bikes.. as is a Very Good idea..

    For Its so hard to see them ,until your right ontop of them.. ! Going or comming..

    add the Increase in the # of Drivers and Vehicles on our Roads during the summer ( Summer Tourist) to everyone else wanting to get outside) and More Drinking and Driving adds to the Problem..

    I gave up My Motorcycle and even Bike Riding days Yrs ago..but before then..

    And I found it best to only do so around these parts Before Memorial Day and After Labor Day when the Tourist and Travelers have gone.. and surely avoid riding on the Wknds.. To Help improve your odds of safer traveling..,
    While not the only solution , but those can help improve one’s odds of having a safer riding experience..

    My Condolences to the Family , what a shame ..and what a waste..

    • This wasnt because of them being visable. The 19 year old girl was passing up hill on a double solid line 150 to 200 yards past a 4 way stop on NN & E. They could have been on fire with strobe lights.

      • Right. It couldn’t possibly be because the motorcycle operator’s blood alcohol level was 0.1 and the fact that he also tested positive for cocaine. The off duty cop with hiom refused testing, but that was OK, too? The lady driver was totally sober.

    • Yea that’s the answer, blame the bikers and cyclists for the inattentive habits of those driving a car or truck. Really?

  2. Mark was a great guy and will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and his many heartbroken friends.

  3. How can a motorcycle react to someone else in there lane when they shouldn’t be passing on a hill in a no passing zone, get your head out of your butt. Senseless act of the driver in the car. I was with Mark that evening. I am a witness Mark didn’t do anything wrong….

  4. I travel NN often going out to Mcmiller gun club off of Hwy 60 in Eagle. Dangerous roads out there for Motorcycles. Very hilly terrain in parts……dangerous to pass. People exceed the 55 mph speed limit by 15 mph. People need to slow down……not be in such a damn hurry that you choose to pass in hilly terrain on a narrow road.

  5. @ retired…this was at 11:28pm, I’m sure their headlights were ON. people need to SLOW THE HELL DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION!! everyone is in so much of a hurry exceeding the speed limit by 10-20 miles per hour! I drive a car and ride motorcycle with loud pipes and still people don’t see me…not because i’m not visible but, because they aren’t paying attention! You are driving a heavy, fast four wheel weapon…WATCH WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND SLOW DOWN!!!!

    • This is so true I can’t express enough how people need to SLOW THE HELL DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION!! Some people are just selfish and are only thinking of themselves when they are trying to get somewhere in that much of a hurry that they don’t think about anything else. It makes me sick. I knew Mark, a friend of mine was close to him. This just SUCKS. God speed Mark!! RIP

  6. Mark you were a Great Guy We are all shocked about hereing this Sorry it happened
    We will all miss you alot prayers for you and your family.

    GOD SPEED MARK

  7. Unfortunately strobe light would blind people much like a camera flash. That could do more harm than good especially at night.

  8. The area of the road they were on is a No Passing area. Yet, the 19 year old driver sped up and tried to pass the car in front of her. As it is a well traveled road to get from Palmyra/Eagle to Mukwonago, she would know it was a no passing zone in that area. She took a risk and 2 men and their families are having to pay for it, one with his life.

  9. I’m very sorry to hear this about mark he was ALLWAYS friendly and kind person . This generation of drives thinking passing on a single or double line is nothing and usally speed has to enter in too.
    To marks family I am very sorry for this to happen and hope the days ahead are better then the terrible news of Aud 5th. May the white light be with you and guide you. God Bless

  10. Passing to cars up hill in a no passing zone. It did not matter if it was a bike or car she was going to hit it. Mark and Craig are both my friends. It was not a mistake. She chose to make that move with no regard of what might happen….many lives ruined.

  11. Mark was a true friend, a selfless mentor, and a staunch patriot. His contributions toward helping Wisconsin Carry offer free concealed carry classes have helped thousands meet the training requirement to protect themselves.

    He loved his bike, he was a skilled rider and respected the rules of the road. This is nothing short of heartbreaking and tragic. He will be missed by many and forgotten by none that knew him. Godspeed my friend…

  12. I had some friends that were in a BAD accident on Father’s Day this year. They were heading home and a young girl was using snap chat and ran a red light, the car my friends were in is totaled, the guy had a fully broken leg and is recovering STILL. People need to stay off their phones and slow down.

  13. I was involved in a motorcycle crash four years ago. I hit a deer. I was going about 60mph. I only survived because God was with me, I was wearing a helmet, and I had a backpack on. I would have been otherwise dead. Mark is a sad story of a successful person, riding a death machine, regardless of what happened, they are very dangerous. I am an icu nurse here in se Wisconsin, we see countless people coming in dead or with such traumatic injuries, it’s so sad. People do not really hear of these accidents, because dead people cannot share their story. Families don’t like to talk about it. My hope is that through this tragic loss, people will talk about it, not to punish this young woman, who made a terrible mistake, but to change the habits of riders and drivers alike, making a rather enjoyable thing like motorcycles safer for everyone. Helmets save lives, I cannot say if Mark was wearing one.

    • Hello Jhon, you don’t know me, but I would like you help me to give my condolences to the Mark’s Family, I was his employee when he opened Roma’s, actually since before when he has the small business were he own also the “dos amigos” restaurant, I’m just noticed about this tragedy zinc I’m in shock because Mark was a good man with me. Thanks!!!

  14. Another senseless tragedy .. another valued life lost. Penalty needs to be more severe for irresponsible drivers. Majority of motorcycle fatalities are due to them not the motorcyclists. Stop blaming us when it’s seldom our fault. I was outraged to hear how this accident occurred. Passing on a hill, in a no-passing zone!?! Lock her up and throw away the keys!!!!

  15. Already miss our spirited faith talks @ the gym in Mukwonago.

  16. Mark I worked for you for many years but we were also great friends. This was the worst news I could have ever gotten. Margaret passed as well this year and lives are forever changed without you both in it. Your missed and remembered in so many ways. RIP Boss …