'He was just a big puppy dog'

ZION — "He was just a big puppy dog," mourned Theresa Larson of Zion.

"I've never seen him angry. It was just a big loss," she said Monday of Michael "Mickey" Moll.

Moll, 49, lost his life early Sunday when the motorcycle he was riding south on Lewis Avenue was struck head-on by a car at 30th Street.

The Chevrolet Cavalier crossed over into the southbound lanes and hit the motorcycle, according to Zion Police Sgt. Terry Richards.

Moll, who received multiple injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller.

Margarito Morales-Ramirez, 24, of Zion, the car's driver, received what Keller described as "not significant injuries." He is being held by Zion police pending charges to be filed against him.

"We're talking to the state's attorney's office," Richards said.

The tragic death of Larson, a printer with Lake County Press in Waukegan, is being mourned by his family and those who knew him, particularly the circle of motorcyclists who came to know him through so many years.

Moll is survived by his widow, Debbie, three grown-up children — a son and two daughters — and daughter.

"My husband Randy and I rode to South Dakota with him and several other motorcyclists last August," recalled Larson.

"He was always good, warm-hearted. He played Santa Claus for my nieces and great-nieces during the holiday."

Joining them for the trip to South Dakota were Julie Hoenig and her husband, Pete, of Libertyville. They all rode Harley-Davidsons.

"He was really a good guy, well-liked. He will be greatly missed," said Julie Hoenig, general manager of Strategic Solutions & Systems Inc. in Libertyville.

Because of Moll's untimely death, she took pains to stress the need for motorists to pay attention to motorcyclists on the road.

"Car drivers look for other cars and trucks. Unfortunately, they don't look for motorcycles," she lamented.

"They need to share the road with us," she said.