‘Lovely couple’ killed in Schenectady motorcycle crash

This photo posted on Cynthia Blomgren's facebook page shows accident victims Bryan and Cynthia Blomgren.

Bryan and Cynthia Blomgren, ages 55 and 57, rode a motorcycle to raise awareness for homeless veterans all day Saturday, but they never made it home.

On Monday, Schenectady police identified the married Rotterdam couple as the two people killed in a motorcycle crash shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday on Erie Boulevard, just west of State Street.

Don Birch, owner of The Saw Mill Tavern on Jay Street in Schenectady, said the couple left his bar at around 5:15 p.m. after starting their day there before noon, riding with a group of bikers to the Albany Housing Coalition’s Vet House on 1st Street, heading to Maple Inn in East Berne and returning to The Saw Mill for a pig roast. It was all part of an eighth annual motorcycle run that raises awareness and funds for homeless veterans.

“We had such a great time, and we were all shaking hands,” Birch recalled from inside The Sawmill Monday afternoon. “Everybody was happy, and it turned out that bad.”

Bryan Blomgren was taken to Albany Medical Center and Cynthia Blomgren was taken to Ellis Hospital before they were both pronounced dead that night, police said. Police believe Bryan Blomgren was the driver.

Birch said he rushed to the scene of the crash after receiving a call right after 6 p.m. He had hoped the crash wasn’t serious and that he could pick up the motorcycle, a Harley Davidson, and ride it back to the bar for the couple he has known for almost 10 years, he said.

The accident occurred just outside Wolff’s Biergarten, and some paramedics who were inside the bar rushed out to provide emergency medical care until help arrived.

“I sat here about an hour-and-a-half and I just couldn’t believe it,” Birch said. “We rode all day long.”

Birch said he knew the couple as customers and as longtime bartenders at the Harley Rendezvous, an annual summertime bike rally in Duanesburg. He described them as “a lovely couple” and said they were at first going to ride to Ground Zero in New York City with another couple that day, but chose to ride for homeless veterans instead.

“I mean real lovely couple,” he said. “So happy to be here that day.”

Steve Kaufman of Schenectady rode with the cluster of bikers Saturday, and joined Birch in rushing to the scene from The Saw Mill. On Monday, he and his girlfriend, Tanya Lace, reflected on the tragedy. They said Bryan and Cynthia each had a teenage daughter from previous marriages, and Bryan also had an older daughter who was getting married soon.

“They were really, really, really good people,” said Kaufman, whose said his sister was close with the couple. “They had three beautiful daughters between the two of them.”

Kaufman said Bryan was “really good on his bike, which is why I’m surprised that what happened happened.”

“Nobody saw the actual thing that happened, but everybody saw the aftermath.”

Police were still trying to determine what caused the accident on Monday. Police have said only that the motorcycle went out of control and hit a sign post.

“It can happen to anybody,” Kaufman said. “You’re cycling in the road, a dog runs out, a car pulls out in front of you — you have no protection on a bike.”

“All the bikers come together and it’s like a big family,” Lace said. “Right now, we’re all mourning.”

There is no city surveillance camera at State Street and Erie Boulevard, but police are looking at a camera farther down Erie Boulevard near Union Street and private security cameras, police Lt. Mark McCracken said. Police have also spoken to several witnesses. The State Police Reconstruction Team also continues to investigate.

“As much information as we can gain about this incident, we will,” he said.

McCracken said the couple were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. A toxicology report from the autopsy will determine if alcohol played a role, but that report won’t be available for another several weeks, he said.

“Just because you’re at a bar doesn’t mean you’re engaging in drinking,” he said.

Birch said if anyone drinks too much at his bar, he takes their bike home for them.

“I don’t think he was drunk, no,” he said of Bryan Blomgren.

Kaufman didn’t think so, either. He said most bikers do not drink and drive, and this couple was like that.

“We were eating, and bullshitting, and then they left,” he said. “It’s a big loss. Two beautiful people.”