A weekend ride in Hastings ended in tragedy Saturday when a 66-year-old man died after his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with an SUV at the intersection of Highway 61 and 12th Street West. The crash happened just before 12:20 p.m., and emergency crews pronounced the rider dead at the scene. The SUV driver was not injured. Authorities say the rider was not wearing a helmet, and the Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the collision.
Crash report details
According to a Minnesota State Patrol crash report cited by FOX 9, the collision occurred when an 18-year-old woman driving a westbound Chevy Equinox entered the intersection as the motorcycle traveled north on Highway 61. The report notes the crash happened just before 12:20 p.m. and that neither vehicle had passengers.
Victim and driver identified
As reported by KROC News, the rider was identified as 66-year-old Gregory Lee Walker of Hastings and the SUV driver as 18-year-old Elizabeth Marie Ayala of Cottage Grove. The State Patrol says Walker was pronounced dead at the scene while Ayala was not injured.
Safety details
The state crash report also notes Walker was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision and that authorities do not suspect alcohol was a factor, according to FOX 9. The Minnesota State Patrol has not released additional information about what led to the collision as the investigation continues.
Rider safety and trends
Per the CDC, helmet use reduces the risk of death by about 37% and the risk of head injury by roughly 69%. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says impairment is a factor in roughly one-third of motorcycle fatalities and urges riders to wear DOT-approved helmets while drivers look twice for motorcycles as riding season ramps up.
Investigation
The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation, and local outlets say officials will release more details as troopers continue to process the scene. As reported by KROC News, investigators relied on the state crash report for the initial information released to the public.
