64-Year-Old Rider Killed in Stearns County Motorcycle Crash

A 64-year-old man, Stephen Joseph Gretch, died after his Harley-Davidson Road King left County Road 50, entered a southbound ditch and rolled near the curve by Glenwood Road in Wakefield Township. The incident occurred on a Friday morning, with Gretch riding south alongside two other motorcyclists. Police found the rider and the damaged motorcycle in the ditch; life-saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful.

St. Cloud Times

Cold Spring Police were the first responders on the scene, followed by Cold Spring Fire and Rescue and the Mayo Ambulance Service, which assisted the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. The damage to the motorcycle was consistent with a roll, and a fiber-optic cable box and a utility pole were also struck. Gretch was not wearing a helmet, and investigators said there was no indication that alcohol was involved.

St. Cloud Times

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the details of the crash in a press release and noted that the accident was not being treated as a hit-and-run. The Department of Public Safety provided statewide data, indicating that the deadliest months for motorcycle fatalities in Minnesota have been May and June, with 17 and 16 deaths respectively.

St. Cloud Times

Minnesota’s motorcycle-related death toll for the current year has already exceeded the previous year’s total of 57, reaching 58 according to a report from KIMT-3 News. The increase underscores ongoing safety concerns for riders, particularly regarding helmet use and road conditions on rural curves.

St. Cloud Times

Local authorities continue to emphasize the importance of helmet use and caution when navigating curves, especially in areas where utility infrastructure may be vulnerable to impact. No further updates on the investigation have been released at this time.

St. Cloud Times