EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A man is dead after losing control of his motorcycle while on U.S. Route 24 near the Illinois Central College campus, according to East Peoria police.
Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley said 40-year-old Bobbie Neltner was pronounced dead at 5:41 p.m., Tuesday, about an hour after the crash. A preliminary autopsy report on Wednesday indicated Neltner died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries which came from the crash.
As required by state law, toxicology results from lab tests are pending, Hanley said.
East Peoria Police Chief David Catton said the crash occurred at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday as the rider was headed west on Route 24 near the intersection with College Drive.
“Witnesses said it was traveling at a high rate of speed and for some reason, he lost control and ended up crashing,” the chief said.
The coroner said the motorcycle left the road and drove into a grassy area where Neltner was thrown from the bike. He landed in a wooded area, Hanley said.
No other vehicles were involved.
That stretch of Route 24 is straight and without sharp turns. When asked what might have caused the crash, the chief said that remains under investigation.
Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley said his office was conducting an autopsy on the man and would release more information at a later time.
