ERIE – A fatal car vs. motorcycle crash was “purely accidental” and more charges likely will not be filed against a 22-year-old Erie man who struck the motorcyclist, Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi said Saturday.
Michael H. Wolf, 60, of rural Erie, died Thursday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
Beau Kirkpatrick, who hit Wolf from behind, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Kirkpatrick was not drunk or using his phone at the time of the “purely accidental” crash, Wilhelmi said.
Wolf was eastbound on Moline Road in Erie about 4:05 p.m. Wednesday and slowed to make a left onto Sand Road when he was hit by Kirkpatrick.
Toxicology reports are pending, Wilhelmi said.
This is the second fatal motorcycle accident in Whiteside County this summer.
Samuel L. Munz, 53, was killed June 5 on state Route 40 about a half-mile east of Ridge Road in rural Sterling. Deputies say he, too, had slowed to make a left turn when he was hit from behind by Theresa A. Ruf, 42, of Chadwick.
No citations have been issued in that incident. Toxicology results and other reports will be given to Whiteside County State’s Attorney Gary Spencer, who will decide on charges, Wilhelmi said.
He urges all motorists to “pay attention.”
“People really need to be aware. Motorcycles are really hard to see.”