On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at approximately 4:21 p.m., Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a single-vehicle motorcycle crash with injuries, on Buell Road, south of Gaulrapp Road.
The initial investigation revealed that the motorcycle was traveling southbound on Buell Road at a high rate of speed. The rider failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Buell and Gaurapp Roads. Shortly after, the rider lost control of the motorcycle, which veered into the west ditch. Both the rider and the motorcycle traveled a significant distance in the ditch, before coming to rest.
The rider, identified as Austin Riddle, 21, of Rock Falls, IL, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene, by OSF Life Flight helicopter, to a regional trauma center for treatment.
Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Sterling Police Department, Illinois State Police, Tampico Fire Department, Tampico EMS, and Slim-N-Hank’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office.