RACINE, WI :Racine man killed in Indiana car crash remembered on Friday, December 16th 2016

Jason Mateer, 37, of Racine, was found without his dog after he died during a car crash in Indiana Friday morning.

Mateer’s Ford van spun, left the roadway, and then vaulted, passenger-side first, into another vehicle at around 9:10 a.m. in Orland, Indiana, according to a release from the Indiana State Police. Mateer was pronounced dead at the scene.

This was the same van that Mateer had spent years in, traveling around the country making deliveries. This was the same van he would park in his brother-in-law Jordan Johnson’s driveway in Racine, where they became best friends over the last six years.

“He’d park the van waiting for his next delivery so we’d hang out and talk and catch up,” Jordan said. “It’s just a life taken too soon and too short.”

Mateer loved traveling, loved his adopted and biological families and loved his dog, Velcro. Velcro, a pitbull, and Mateer traveled everywhere together for every delivery or journey.

Police told the family the dog was not found, although they found the dog’s bowl and other canine items in the vehicle.

“Before he was trained, the dog would sit on (Mateer’s) lap while he was driving,” said Desiree Johnson, Mateer’s biological sister. “We believe that’s what might have caused the accident. Police said it was a freak accident.”

Jordan said that weather may have been the factor. But regardless of the reason, he said everyone who knows Mateer is devastated.

“It hurt us all. It’s a tragedy,” Jordan said. “He’ll forever be embedded in our minds and hearts because he definitely planted his seed.”

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Racine man killed in Indiana car crash remembered