The crash occurred at about 11:30 p.m. in the 400-block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Friends and fellow riders gathered Thursday at The Salt Shed to honor Mehnoosh Hatam, a motorcyclist killed in an overnight crash on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and a leader in Chicago's motorcycling community.
Loved ones identified Hatam as the rider who died following the crash Wednesday night. Fellow members of the Chicago United Riders met before a planned evening ride, this time dedicating it to her memory.
Members of the group wrote tributes on a cross that will be placed near the crash site where Hatam was killed.
Hatam, 49, was a member of Chicago United Riders and the founder of a motorbike crew called Illinois Riders Escape. Friends said she advocated for female riders and was known within the riding community for looking out for others.
"Just every single ride that we've had with her, every second that we've spent with her. She was such an incredible person," George Nicholson of Chicago United Riders said.
According to Chicago police, the crash happened about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Navy Pier. Police said a 25-year-old woman driving a gray sedan southbound struck Hatam, who was riding a motorcycle in the same direction.
Close friends said Hatam was headed home from work at the time of the crash.
Hatam was taken to Northwestern Hospital, where she died.
"Anytime we were out there on these rides, if something happened, she was the one to pull over and check on you. She would never leave you behind. She always made sure everybody was safe, so it hard to be here without her," Laura Burnes of Chicago United Riders said.
Fellow rider Mike Dobiga said Hatam had planned to attend the gathering before the crash.
"We know that she was planning on being here tonight, that about ten minutes before that accident, she was talking about her plans to come here. So one of the things we definitely want this ride to be tonight is we want it to be as fun as she expected it to be," Dobiga said.
Police said the 25-year-old driver was not injured and was taken into custody. Charges and citations are pending.