3 more riders die

As they liked to do most weekends, two couples from the northwest suburbs hopped on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles Sunday morning and set out along back roads for lunch in New Glarus, Wis.

But three of the four were killed on the way when a car traveling on the wrong side of a two-lane road struck their two motorcycles shortly after noon Sunday in the southern Wisconsin town of Avon, in Rock County.

Glenn "Don" Katsion, 49, of Hoffman Estates, was driving a motorcycle that was hit by the car head-on; he died instantly of massive head injuries, police said. His wife, Marlene, 50, received massive internal injuries and died later Sunday in Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, authorities said.

Judy Haehn, 50, a school teacher from Des Plaines, was a passenger on the second motorcycle, which was sideswiped by the car. She died of massive internal trauma at Beloit Memorial Hospital in Beloit, Wis., authorities said.

Her husband, Lou, had a shattered ankle and broken arm and was in fair condition Monday in Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge.

Police in Rock County, Wis., said the driver of the car did not have a driver's license and is an illegal immigrant from Mexico. They have asked prosecutors to charge Alfredo Diaz Urueta, 20, with three counts of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle, three counts of hit-and-run involving a fatality, one count of hit-and-run involving an injury and four counts of failure to render aid at the scene of an accident--all felonies. Police said the most recent address for Diaz was in Darlington, Wis.

Diaz allegedly ran away from the accident and hitched a ride to Beloit. Police arrested him there about 30 minutes later. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, according to reports.

Lt. Bill Harper of the Rock County Sheriff's Department said it was not known why Diaz was driving a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass on the wrong side of Wisconsin Highway 81. Diaz was not passing a vehicle when the collision occurred, Harper said.

A witness told police Diaz was driving recklessly and speeding shortly before the collision.

Police said they do not believe alcohol was a factor. The Katsions and the Haehns were wearing helmets. Friends and family said the couples had enjoyed riding motorcycles across the country for years.

Don Katsion worked in the parts department at the Harley-Davidson shop in Palatine.