A Champaign man has been arrested following an investigation into a June 30, 2023, traffic incident near the intersection of N. Neil and Maple Street. Champaign Police were dispatched at 5:49 p.m. on June 30, 2023, to the intersection of Neil and Maple Street for a report of an Accident with Injuries. On-scene, officers found 20-year-old Treighton Puckett of Urbana and his wrecked motorcycle near the roadway. Puckett had sustained multiple injuries in a crash, and officers with the Champaign Police Department immediately rendered medical aid with assistance from personnel from the Champaign Fire Department. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation indicates that the motorcyclist was driving southbound on Neil Street when another vehicle entered his lane. This caused the bike to perform an unsuccessful evasive maneuver and resulted in the motorcycle crashing in the roadway. The other vehicle failed to stop, leaving the scene of the accident before officers could arrive.
On July 4, 2023, Champaign Police arrested 51-year-old Ryan Chester from Champaign for his role as the second driver in this incident. Chester remains in the custody of the Champaign County Correctional Center on charges including leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm, and/or death. The Champaign Police Department would like to thank the community for their assistance during this investigation.
Although an arrest has been made, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to please contact police at 217-351-4545. Arrangements may be made for information to be shared privately. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Champaign Police reminds citizens that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers, and conversations are not recorded.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.