UPDATE: The Eaton County Sheriff's Office has identified the man who died in a motorcycle/deer collision June 16 as Eric Steidle, 45, from Hastings.

ORIGINAL STORY: An unidentified Hastings man, 45, died Wednesday after striking a deer while riding his motorcycle in Vermontville Township, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Initial investigation indicates the motorcycle rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was southbound on Ionia Road south of Kelly Highway when he struck a deer.  He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries, where he later passed away.

Sheriff’s deputies, Vermontville Township Fire Department and Eaton Area EMS responded at 11:07 p.m. to a report of  a motorcycle accident.  Ionia Road was closed from about 11 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. The accident is being investigated further by the Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Team.

Jean Gallup