Fresno State student killed in motorcycle crash

Communications major was son of campus professor of Africana Studies

By Katrina Garcia
The Collegian

A Fresno State student was killed in a motorcycle accident Friday morning.

Kwasi Opoku-Sakyi, 21, was driving his motorcycle in north Fresno early Friday morning when he was involved in an accident.

The one-person crash occurred at Friant and Rice Avenues. Opoku-Sakyi’s family was notified of his death at 4 p.m. Friday.

Opoku-Sakyi was the son of Fresno State Professor Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, of the Africana Studies department. Oheneba-Sakyi and his son had just returned August 22 from study tour in Ghana.

Opoku-Sakyi was a communications major and a new motorcycle rider. He had purchased the motorcycle just days before his trip to Ghana.

“He was pretty outgoing. We had a lot of fun socializing together. He was pretty lighthearted,” Kellie Foster said, a recent graduate of Fresno State who traveled to Ghana with him earlier this month.

“He was someone who could get along with just about anyone, a people person,” Foster said. “Once you got to really know him, you could definitely develop a very close relationship with him.”

Foster remembers Opoku-Sakyi especially enjoying taking in the sights and sounds of Ghana while on the trip.

“He enjoyed taking pictures and exploring Ghana,” Foster said. “He hadn’t been there in several years. It was a priceless moment in Ghana for him.”

“He loved people,” said Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi, Opoku-Sakyi’s younger sister. “He had so many friends. He loved experiencing new things.”

The Africana Studies department said Oheneba-Sakyi was expected to continue teaching this semester.

A memorial and viewing will be held today at Family Community Church, located at 2434 E. Nees Ave.

Viewing will also be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Services are at 11 a.m. with internment after the service at Belmont Memorial Park.

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