Oswego County deputies were following man before he died in motorcycle crash

Schroeppel, N.Y — The Oswego County Sheriff’s Office now say that deputies were following a man before he died in a motorcycle crash this summer, a detail the department previously omitted when it first announced the crash.
Austin Grigsby, 22, of Baldwinsville, died when he lost control of his 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle on Aug. 9, according to Lt. Andy Bucher, a spokesperson for the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.
Two deputies started to follow Grigsby around 10:32 p.m. when he passed them going south on Interstate 481 at 90 mph, Bucher said.
The deputies tried to pursue Grigsby but he accelerated before they could catch up to him, he said.
“Due to the speed, the deputies were never able to effectively catch up until Grigsby slowed down to get off 481 at Exit 14,” Bucher said.
Grigsby crashed into a guard rail when he took the off ramp at that exit, he said.
The Attorney General‘s Office opened a preliminary probe into Grigsby’s death but ultimately determined that an officer did not cause his death, an AG spokeswoman said.
Grigsby was a graduate of the Baldwinsville Central School District, according to his obituary. He attended First Baptist Church in Phoenix, and worked for Morey’s Mobil Home Transportation Co., in West Monroe. He was survived by his parents and step-siblings, according to the obituary.
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Austin Grigsby obituary
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Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or [email protected].