Granby Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash
GRANBY, MASSACHUSETTS (WWLP) A Granby family of avid motorcycle riders is trying to make sense of how their son died in a crash this weekend. 27-year-old Sean O’Brien had been riding motorcycles since he was 16 and his parents say he always put safety first when on his bike.

Raymond O'Brien says he has lost his best friend, his son, Sean.

Chicopee police lt. Richard Nunes says 27-year-old Sean O’Brien died when he rear-ended a car on Memorial Drive early Saturday morning. Nunes says speed and alcohol played a role in the deadly motorcycle crash.

Raymond O’Brien says, "We are on our way to the funeral home right now. I got up the other night and I heard something. I thought he was coming in because it hasn't really hit me that he isn't with us anymore."

Raymond told 22News Sean always wore the proper gear and never cut costs when purchasing things like a helmet.

Just two days after Sean O’ Brien died on Memorial Drive in Chicopee, another accident with a motorcycle happened just yards from where O'Brien died.

Witnesses say the car in front of the motorcycle stopped short Monday afternoon. That's when the bike hit the bumper and the rider went flying, frighteningly similar to Saturday’s fatal crash.

Sean J. O'Brien 1979 - 2007 GRANBY - Sean J. O'Brien, 27, of Morgan St., died Saturday, May 5 as a result of a motorcycle accident in Chicopee. Born in Springfield, November 1, 1979, he was the son of Raymond J. and Eileen (Conroy) O'Brien of Granby. Sean lived his whole life in Granby and was a graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational High School in Palmer. For the past 10 years, Sean has worked as an electrician for Lane Electric in W. Springfield. He was a member of Chicopee Falls Tigers Club Bowling League and was formerly its secretary. He has ridden a motorcycle since the age of 16 and loved and fixed anything that had wheels. Besides his parents, he will be deeply missed by his sister Shannon of Granby, his maternal grandparents, James A. and Annie L. (Creelman) Conroy of Chicopee, along with his 4 uncles, James, Thomas, John and Kevin Conroy all of Chicopee, his 4 aunts, Annie Maziarz of Belchertown, Catherine Simard, Mary Dupont, Carol Woytych all of Chicopee, along with many cousins and extended family. His uncle William Conroy predeceased him. Calling hours will be Thursday, May 10 at the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St. (Rte 116) from 4:00 p.m. to7:00 p.m. with a video tribute shown during the calling hours. Friends and family may gather Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home for a Celebration of Life Ceremony. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to BHS-Rays of Hope, Springfield, MA. For more information or to sing online guest book, please visit www.beersandstory.com.
Published in The Republican on 5/8/2007.

Sean Joseph O'Brien Born in Springfield, MA on Nov. 1, 1979 Died May 5, 2007 and resided in Granby, MA. Visitation: Thursday, May 10, 2007 Service: Friday, May 11, 2007 Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

Sean J. O’Brien, 27, of Morgan St., died Saturday, May 5 as a result of a motorcycle accident in Chicopee. Born in Springfield, November 1, 1979, he was the son of Raymond J. and Eileen (Conroy) O’Brien of Granby. Sean lived his whole life in Granby and was a graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational High School in Palmer. For the past 10 years, Sean has worked as an electrician for Lane Electric in W. Springfield. He was a member of Chicopee Falls Tigers Club Bowling League and was formerly its secretary. He has ridden a motorcycle since the age of 16 and loved and fixed anything that had wheels. Besides his parents, he will be deeply missed by his sister Shannon of Granby, his maternal grandparents, James A. and Annie L. (Creelman) Conroy of Chicopee, along with his 4 uncles, James, Thomas, John and Kevin Conroy all of Chicopee, his 4 aunts, Annie Maziarz of Belchertown, Catherine Simard, Mary Dupont, Carol Woytych all of Chicopee, along with many cousins and extended family. His uncle William Conroy predeceased him. Calling hours will be Thursday, May 10 at the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St. (Rte 116) from 4:00 p.m. to7:00 p.m. with a video tribute shown during the calling hours. Friends and family may gather Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home for a Celebration of Life Ceremony. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to BHS-Rays of Hope, Springfield, MA.