The warm November evening in Blount County, Alabama, was forever changed when 35-year-old Austin L. Bates rode his classic 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle out of the driveway and into what would become his final journey. Just after 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Bates veered off County Road 20 near Rogers Road—about five miles east of Oneonta—and collided with a tree, authorities say.
Our community now pauses at the memory of a man who clearly loved the open road and the feel of his vintage ride beneath him. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but despite their best efforts Bates was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash took place at roughly 6:43 p.m., according to reports.
While the details remain limited, the preliminary investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division indicates Bates lost control of the motorcycle and traveled off the roadway. The county and state troopers are now working to learn whether speed, road conditions, fatigue or mechanical failure played a role.
Bates—known by family and friends as someone who embraced the freedom of the ride—was driving a machine that harkened back decades. His choice of a 1947 Indian Chief says something about his personality: appreciative of craftsmanship, comfortable in his passion, and unafraid to stand out. This crash stopped that journey far too soon.
Those who knew him say Austin was the kind of guy who greeted a throttle twist with a grin, who talked about his machine with pride, and who treated the road as something to respect first, explore second. Now his passing leaves a hole in the lives of his loved ones and the local riding community in Blount County.
On what began as an ordinary Tuesday evening, the unforeseeable happened—and folks in Oneonta and beyond are shaken. As leaves drift and engines hum through the quiet county roads, a reminder lingers: life is fleeting, the road is indifferent, and vintage steel can’t shield us from fate.
The investigation remains ongoing and the law enforcement agency hasn’t yet disclosed any timeline on a report or public statement beyond what has been shared. And for the community, the hope now is that this tragedy will serve as a reminder to all riders to stay vigilant, respect both machine and terrain—and never take a single ride for granted.
Our thoughts are with the Bates family, his friends, and everyone affected by his sudden loss. May Austin’s love of the ride and the joy he found on those open County Road 20 miles live on in memory—and may his fellow riders carry a bit of that love with extra care.