WHITE CO., Ill. - A well-known former Wayne County deputy lost his life in a motorcycle accident yesterday in a rural area of White County.
Retired Deputy Don Atwood,64, one of Wayne County's best-known deputies across the years, was operating his motorcycle Tuesday, May 16, in White County when, at about noon time, he was at the curves on Illinois Route 1 about two miles north of Norris City and left the roadway, crashing off the road.
White County Sheriff Doug Maier said that there were no skid marks, braking marks, or anything that would give indication that Atwood attempted to swerve or avoid a collision with something.
Maier did advise that a medical condition hasn't yet been ruled out, however.
Atwood was found alive but seriously injured; with a helicopter on standby, he was taken by ambulance to Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Atwood was a deputy in Wayne County for 33 years. He was well-known and very well-liked by all (with the probable exception of the crims he helped collar, but he was such a genial man that even they probably didn't mind much while he was carrying out his duties.) Atwood lost his wife several years ago and was kind of sidelined by that, but he persevered; he retired four years ago after working in a limited capacity for Wayne.
Maier said he's not sure whether there will be an autopsy or not; if we learn what's going on with that, we'll add it to the post.
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