Industry News - Highland execs killed

Tragedy strikes U.S. Highland; Three top execs killed in plane crash

DealerNews reported last week that a plane crash claimed the lives of the three top men at U.S. Highland, the fledgling ATV manufacturer that announced this year it was releasing the 450cc and 507cc ATX Quad Racer.

Read the dealer news report below:

Tragedy struck U.S. Highland, Inc. Saturday night (July 10) as founder and president Mats Malmberg, 41, and two other top executives perished in a plane crash.

Also killed in the crash were COO Charles Bales, 51; and CFO Damian Riddoch, 37.

They were returning from a business trip to Detroit when they had asked to make an emergency landing at Tulsa International Airport, but went down instead in a wooded area of a city park northwest of the airport, killing all three aboard.

"This is a human tragedy beyond imagination," CEO Steven A. Moell sad in a press release. "Our hearts and prayers go out to their families. No words can describe the loss the families are experiencing. It was an honor to work with these three men and I know they would want us to continue to build US Highland into a leading U.S. powersports company. They were all true visionaries and will be deeply missed." 

The company moved from Sweden to Mounds, Okla., two years ago to take advantage of the larger American market and the capacity for R&D and manufacturing. At last report the company had about 30 employees and ambitious growth plans.

Malmberg was a former professional rider in Europe. He still designed and tested all of U.S. Highland’s prototype bikes.

The company had just announced that its hub motor was ready for production.
Bales, a part-owner, said in May that the company planned to introduce a new line of bikes at retail in a few months, and divulged its long-range plans to expand its facility to a five-building manufacturing campus.

Late Monday, Bloomberg reported that Bales was piloting the plane when it went down, and that the company would announce executive appointments Tuesday.

"I know everyone including myself at U.S. Highland will sincerely miss Mats, Chase and Damian. I always had a strong respect for their work ethic and strong level of integrity. My deepest condolences go out to their families," US Highland chairman Bengt Andersson said in the release.

Malmberg is survived by his wife and three children. Bales is survived by his wife and two children. Riddoch is survived by his wife and four children.