Motorcyclist killed

A Texas man was killed July 4 in a motorcycle wreck shortly after 9 p.m. on Highway 46 five miles west of Maryville.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Steven A. Essendrup, 52, Bulverde, Texas, was westbound on the two-lane highway when he lost control of his 2011 Harley Davidson Dyna Street Bob, went off the north side of the pavement and struck a ditch.

Essendrup was pronounced dead by Nodaway County Coroner Vince Shelby, and next-of-kin were notified. The accident was reportedly not discovered until early Thursday.

The victim was wearing a helmet, the patrol report stated. On impact, Essendrup was thrown from the bike, which crashed into a nearby pond, sustaining moderate damage. 

Trooper J.D. Farmer was assisted in working the accident by the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department. The death was the 16th traffic fatality in the patrol's Troop H service area this year.