Malta man dies in motorcycle accident

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A Malta man died late Friday night after being involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident.

William R. Hiestand, 49, of the 700 block of Heal Road in Malta, was pronounced dead after deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office were called about 10:25 p.m. Friday to an accident at Base Line and Malta roads, according to a written statement from the sheriff's department.

Chief Deputy Kevin Hickey said the motorcycle was traveling west on Base Line Road approaching Malta Road when the accident occurred about 10:25 p.m. Friday

"Just prior to that intersection there is a jog in the roadway, a slight curve," he said. "The driver of the motorcycle completely missed that and went into the field area after leaving the roadway."

Both Hiestand and his passenger, 33-year-old Catherine S. Cooper, were ejected from the motorcycle, Hickey said. Neither was wearing a helmet, Hickey said.

The driver of a vehicle traveling behind the motorcycle called police after witnessing the accident, Hickey said.

Cooper, also of Malta, was taken by helicopter from the scene of the accident to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford for head injuries sustained in the accident, according to the statement. She was in critical condition as of early Saturday morning.

The accident is under investigation by the sheriff's department and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office.