A Perry man died Monday afternoon after a motorcycle wreck in West Des Moines.

Sources say at around 1 p.m. on Labor Day, 39-year-old Mark Eppert crashed the motorcycle he was driving, in a collision that also included another motorcycle and an SUV. Eppert was taken by ambulance to a Des Moines hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His passenger, 42-year-old Heidi Godwin of Perry, was also injured, though the extent of her injuries and current condition are unknown at this time. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the West Des Moines Police Department, but they noted that speed was likely a contributing factor.

Eppert was a maintenance technician for the Perry School District, while Godwin is a paraeducator at the high school. Superintendent Clark Wicks told Raccoon Valley Radio that the death of Eppert was a huge loss for the Perry community. Wicks added, “Mark was a hard worker, he had Bluejay pride, he had a lot of different skills that he brought to the table, and we will miss him immensely.” Eppert has two children enrolled at the high school, and Wicks said counselors are available to any student or staff who needs someone to talk to about the tragedy. The superintendent also expressed his sadness for the injuries sustained by Godwin, and wished her a speedy recovery.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.