On August 16, 2026, at approximately 5:20 P.M., the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department was called for an overdue motorcyclist. A family member reported that Kelli Jo Gauthier, 52, of Avon, had been riding her motorcycle with a group of other riders and left the group to go back to her residence north of the city of Avon. After two hours of checking the area, family members called law enforcement. Gauthier was said to be riding her 2008 Harley-Davidson XL1200.
At approximately 6:00 P.M., a Cold Spring-Richmond Officer located Gauthier and the motorcycle crashed in the ditch, off the sweeping left-hand curve in the 25500 block of County Road 9 in Munson Township. This location is 1-2 miles north of the city of Richmond. Lifesaving measures were attempted but Gauthier was ultimately pronounced deceased by paramedics. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department, Paynesville Police Department, Chain of Lakes Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
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