A 64-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash on County Road 50 in Wakefield Township, Minnesota, just before noon on Friday.
According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred near the intersection of County Road 50 and Glenwood Road, approximately 1.5 miles north of Cold Spring. The victim, identified as Stephen Joseph Gretsch of Albany, was riding with two other motorcyclists when he lost control as they entered a curve. His motorcycle continued straight off the roadway, entering a ditch.
Officers with the Cold Spring Police Department found Gretsch not wearing a helmet in the southbound ditch. Despite attempts at life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The motorcycle sustained significant damage, consistent with having rolled during the crash, and a fiber optic cable box along with a utility pole were also damaged.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports at least 45 motorcyclists have died in crashes in the state this year.