Motorcylist dies following crash in St. Croix County

STAR PRAIRIE — A Star Prairie man became St. Croix County’s third traffic fatality of 2017 following a motorcycle accident on March 31.

33-year-old Reed C. Shipley died Sunday, April 2 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN from injuries in last Friday’s accident that occurred at 6:14 p.m. on CTH CC/Wall Street at CTH C and CTH CC in the Town of Star Prairie.

A preliminary investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office along with witness statements indicated that Reed Shipley was driving a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on CTH C/Wall Street. An  eastbound 2012 Chevrolet Impala driven by Angela M. Berg, 38 of Somerset, was stopped at the stop sign on CTH C/CTH CC. A truck southbound on CTH C, that was ahead of Shipley, was preparing to turn west onto CTH C/CTH CC. Berg, who did not see the motorcycle behind the truck, entered the intersection causing Shipley to brake quickly, lose control of the motorcycle and be ejected. The car and motorcycle did not make contact according to the news release.

Shipley, who was not wearing a helmet when the accident occurred, was transported to Westfields Hospital in New Richmond. He was later transported to Regions Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

Berg and her three passengers – Maria Berg, 12; Emily Berg, 10; and Austin Berg, 4 were not injured in the accident.

The New Richmond Police Department, New Richmond Fire and EMS and the Star Prairie First Responders assisted at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.