Antonio Jackson, the well-known community leader and longtime owner of Movin’ Maricopa, died yesterday after a “ghastly” motorcycle crash at Guadalupe and Rural Roads in Tempe.

He was 51.

“I am so sad and sorry to say that my cousin and owner of Movin’ Maricopa, Antonio Jackson, passed away today in a motorcycle accident,” announced relative Alfred Baldonado this morning. “I am so heartbroken.”

Jackson, who started his moving company in 2015, was active in the community. He was a longtime volunteer at food banks, like the one on Papago Road, where he lived.

“This is so disheartening to hear… Antonio was always solid and dependable,” Shawn Gregory of Rancho El Dorado, himself a longtime entrepreneur who announced his retirement Saturday. “As a fellow biker, hearing of another brother lost because of ignorance and impatience on the road hits hard.”

An eyewitness to the crash described it as violent and sudden, writing that a truck turned left in front of Jackson’s motorcycle.

“Both of them had the green light but the truck tried to turn making a left and collided straight into the bike,” the witness wrote. “The rider did not have any time to slow down or even react.” 

The eyewitness said a female passenger was also injured in the crash and neither appeared to be wearing helmets. 

News of Jackson’s death spread quickly through Maricopa, especially its biker community. 

“He was one of the few people that would always talk to us at events,” wrote Steve Poe of Rancho El Dorado on Facebook. “It was always an honor to ride with him.” 

“He was always so kind when he came in or called,” added Mara Landon, who worked alongside Jackson at a local storage business. “I never had a bad interaction with the man.” 

Landon described him as “his fast-moving smiling self” when she saw him just two weeks ago. “God, he will be missed. Maricopa loved him!”

Others remembered Jackson not only as a businessman, but as a generous friend who often showed up to help people in need. 

“Antonio was always helpful when we needed to change furniture around or any heavy lifting,” wrote Charlene Chapman Roden of Tortosa. “He was a very nice man.” 

“He was such a positive, big-energy, down-to-earth guy,” added Walter Nunez of Senita. 

“Let me know if Roots Eatery can donate a meal for the family,” wrote Roots owner Chris Spear. “We would be happy to help out. Food is what we know and what they need right now.” 

Authorities have not yet released an official report, and details about the condition of the passenger have not been confirmed. InMaricopa reached out to Tempe police for details about the accident.  

Funeral arrangements have not been made public.