Fatal Parke County motorcycle accident

PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A Parke County man loses his life not far from his home in a motorcycle crash.

It happened just a couple of miles south of Rockville on Catlin Road.

John Beaty, 61, had been reported missing late Sunday night when he didn't return home.

Deputies said someone driving by Monday morning saw Beaty's body and his motorcycle in a creek just off the road. But deputies actually believe the wreck happened Sunday afternoon, shortly after Beaty left on a motorcycle ride.

"We don't know if someone ran him off the road," said Parke County Sheriff Mike Eslinger. "There was no excessive speed involved, or whether he had some medical issues that caused this. Of course, that will determined through the autopsy and toxicology."

Parke County investigators continue to work to determine a cause.

An autopsy shows Beaty died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Toxicology results are due back in 2 to 3 weeks.