Owner of KnJ’s Sports Bar found dead along with one other person after motorcycle crash

Authorities say a Topeka man who crashed his motorcycle after a birthday celebration at a Topeka bar was found dead in a ditch about 42 hours later with the body of his passenger.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 59-year-old Kenneth Barsch went off the side of U.S. 75 around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.  Patrol Lt. Bryce Whelpley described the ditch that Barsch and 49-year-old Kimberly Hollis crashed into as “very steep” and deep.

A search party made up of relatives and friends came across the scene around 7:30 p.m. Thursday.  Barsch had last been seen about 1 a.m. on Wednesday riding away from the bar in northern Topeka.  His birthday had been Tuesday.

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