Family, friends mourn Meadow Vista's Justin Young, 23

This week, many in the foothills are remembering the life of a young man who died in a motorcycle accident in Meadow Vista.His boss remembered Justin M. Young as a quintessential Auburn guy, who loved the outdoors and riding the lightning-fast motorcycle he recently purchased.But Young's joy ride turned tragic Saturday evening when the 23-year-old Meadow Vista man's yellow 2005 Suzuki GSX 600 fell out from under him on Placer Hills Road.Celebration of LifeWho: Justin Young, 23Where: Colfax Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnessess, 944 Canyon Way, ColfaxWhen: 2 p.m. SaturdayBorn in Roseville, Young attended Independence High School shortly before entering the workforce.He worked in his uncle's body shop in Stockton and for a tile company, but four-wheeling, fixing up his Jeep and riding with friends was his life."He couldn't sit still. The second he was off work he was saying, 'What are we doing? Let's go,'" said his sister, Rachelle Lesky, 25. "I almost think he knew he didn't have long because every second he could, he was with someone. He'd spend so much time, gas and money to go see somebody."His hair and wardrobe were eclectic - he'd wear leather jackets, cowboy hats and dye or shave his hair."He didn't know if he was a country boy or a Harley guy," she said.Family also said he was a faithful Jehovah's Witness.Young worked for about a year as a sales/service associate at Les Schwab Tire Centers on Highway 49 in Auburn.He was certified in several repairs, including alignments, and had recently become TIA certified to service big rigs, said manager Tom Lopiccolo."It's a hard deal to move out all those cars," he said. "And he set the pace for everyone."Young was a hard worker and volunteered to work extra hours, even on his days off, to help out, Lopiccolo said."He was on the path to a good career. He had started at entry level and worked halfway through the pay scale in promotions all in a year," Lopiccolo said.Young often assisted motorists with tire blowouts on area roads."He was good with people who were broken down and stressed out on the side of the road," he said. "I'd gotten two or three calls from customers after he serviced them (who said) that he was a pleasure to have come out."Young was trying to save up money to go on trips and vacations, so he handed his checkbook over to his sister, Lesky, to handle his finances.He came to her to get the money for the bike."He said he wanted a street bike, and I said 'Absolutely not, you're not getting the money,'" she said. "We don't know how, but we think he went to the bank and got the money and got the bike."He had purchased the bike against his sister's wishes a month ago."He loved it. He was insecure, but he loved being around people and goofing off because it made him feel good," Lesky said. "Four-wheeling and motorcycles made him feel good because he wasn't thinking about himself, he could just throw himself into it."He was on his way home from work Saturday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle while travelling northbound on Placer Hills Road on a curve in the road just past Pine Wood Way at around 6:45 p.m., California Highway Patrol officials said.A witness said Young's racing motorcycle was leaning heavily on the bend and speeding at an estimated 90 mph.The motorcycle dropped out from under Young, and both bike and rider hit a curb, ejecting Young into a tree.Life-flight paramedics from CALSTAR arrived at the scene, but Young was pronounced dead.Young was wearing a helmet and there are no indications he was under the influence at the time, said Maury Kane, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol."Even if you are wearing a helmet, when you're ejected from a motorcycle and hit a fixed object, not even body armor would save you," he said. "A 23-year-old kid and a high-powered motorcycle can have disastrous consequences." His family is remembering their loveable "goofball." He had a special connection with his older sister."He was my baby, he didn't do anything without asking me," Rachelle said. "I could be in a bad mood and all he'd have to do was hug me."Young is survived by his father, Fred Young Sr., his mother, Theresa Haleen, and step-father, Roy Haleen, as well as his brothers, Freddy Young and Dominick Young, and sister, Rachelle Lesky.The Journal's Michelle Miller can be reached at michellem@goldcountrymedia.com.