Two die in motorcycle crash on Ill. 64

Two men were killed and a woman critically injured Aug. 3 when two motorcycles collided on Ill. 64 east of Mt. Morris.

Richard Zimmerman, 67, Lanark, and Michael Gonzalez, 50, Chicago, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in the 3,000 block of West Ill. 64 less than a mile east of Mt. Morris, Ogle County Sheriff’s Police said in a press release.

Rosarita Gonzalez, 52, Chicago, a passenger, was transported by Life Flight helicopter to St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, where she remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

A portion of Ill. 64 was closed for more than two hours due to the crash.

Police said Zimmerman, a former Oregon and Mt. Morris resident, was driving a 1992 Harley Davidson eastbound in his lane when a westbound 2009 Kawasaki, driven by Gonzalez, attempted to pass other westbound traffic and pulled into the eastbound lane of travel. 

Gonzalez’s motorcycle collided nearly head-on with Zimmerman’s motorcycle in the eastbound lane of travel. The crash occurred at 11 a.m.

After the impact, Zimmerman and his motorcycle skidded into the ditch embankment on the south side of the roadway. Gonzalez and his motorcycle continued westbound on the roadway for several hundred feet before entering the ditch embankment on the north side of the roadway.

The Gonzalezes were apparently riding with a group of at least 30 other motorcycles. 

Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said he did not know if Gonzalez was attempting to pass another motorcycle or some other vehicle.

The accident remains under investigation.

A spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department said it could be several months before the crash report would be completed.

Sheriff’s police were assisted by Mt. Morris Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service, the Oregon Fire Department, the Mt. Morris and Oregon Police Departments, and the Ogle County Coroner.

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Two die in motorcycle crash on Ill. 64