Neponset man killed in accident

PRINCETON — A rural Neponset man died Friday as the result of a motorcycle accident just west of Princeton.

George Allan “Al” Bates, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene about 7:30 p.m. Friday by Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff.

On Monday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said there were no witnesses to the accident. Site reconstructionist Gary Becket has been assigned to the accident to determine what happened.

In giving a review of the day’s events, Thompson said Bate’s daughter came to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department in Princeton at about 3:30 p.m. Friday to report her father had left his residence earlier in the day to go to Princeton for some medical tests at Perry Memorial Hospital. Her father had not arrived at the doctor’s office nor had he contacted her.

At that time, Thompson said he assigned officers to attempt to find Bates, who had left his residence on his motorcycle. Officers combed roadways between the Princeton and Neponset areas but did not locate the man.

At about 7:27 p.m., family friends located Bate’s motorcycle about 100 yards from 1850 East Street, which runs north from Route 6/34 on the west edge of Princeton. The motorcycle and Bates were found in an overgrown area of shrubbery, Thompson said.

Assisting at the scene in addition to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department and the county coroner were the Princeton Fire and Ambulance Department and the Princeton Police.

The accident remains under investigation.

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