A young man from Waterloo passed away following a crash over the Thanksgiving weekend, leaving his family, friends and the community to mourn a brief but brilliant life.

Harrison George Tuttle, 19, died Friday from injuries sustained following a collision involving his motorcycle with an SUV near Millstadt.

Emergency personnel responded shortly before 8:50 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Route 158 at Triple Lakes Road between Columbia and Millstadt.

An Illinois State Police accident reconstruction team responded to investigate the crash, resulting in a road closure until early Saturday morning. 

ISP said a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 16-year-old female from Dupo was traveling southbound on Triple Lakes Road and failed to yield the right of way at the intersection with Route 158, resulting in a collision with a 2002 Honda motorcycle driven by Tuttle, which was traveling east on Route 158 toward Millstadt.

Tuttle was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. 

The driver of the Grand Cherokee, who was uninjured, was issued a citation for failure to yield. 

A resident of that area with knowledge of the crash told the Republic-Times that surveillance camera footage shows the incident as it occurred. That footage was turned over to ISP as part of the investigation.

Tuttle’s parents, Douglas George and Susan Renee Tuttle, offered comments on their son and the response they’ve seen from the community following his death.

While deeply saddened by their loss, both Douglas and Susan spoke with great positivity about Harrison, recalling fondly how energetic and daring he was all throughout his life.

“He was an extremely bold and rambunctious child,” Douglas said. “Fearless and was always ready to color outside the lines. He was a challenge, but also a joy to raise.”

Susan echoed this sentiment, recalling how Harrison learned to ski while he was still in diapers and never shied away from any slope.

She further described how he was a “fearless little boy,” going ziplining when he was young and developing a great love for rivers in Missouri. Kayaking, his parents said, was one of his larger interests.

“Just willing to take on any challenge,” Susan said. “Generally speaking, it was a challenge that he came up with. He pushed the limits. He climbed a lot of trees. He skateboarded in places he shouldn’t have.”

Harrison’s energy and urge to try new things persisted throughout school as well. 

Though Douglas and Susan said Harrison wasn’t a star student, they noted he was quite intelligent and had a decent skill for math.

At Waterloo High School, he played trombone in the school’s band – a tradition from his father and uncle as well as his cousins and sister.

He also participated on the WHS soccer team, having developed a passion for the sport when he was very young. Harrison also played on various club teams over the years.

Douglas and Susan explained that Harrison left high school rather quickly, spending just two years at WHS before joining Southwestern Illinois College’s Running Start program, acquiring his high school diploma and an associate of arts degree by the time he graduated.

In the last year, Harrison kept himself busy as he tried to nail down his interests while also saving up money.

“He really enjoyed working with his hands,” Douglas said. “Whatever his future would have held, I think something active would have been involved.”

Following Harrison’s death, many in the community have voiced their sympathies for the family and their sadness over his loss, with neighbors and family friends describing fond memories of him.

Douglas and Susan spoke about the outpouring of kindness and condolences from the community.

They were somewhat surprised to hear so many kind words from folks who had known Harrison from Family Kitchen in Waterloo, as he had seemingly become a friendly and familiar face while he worked there.

“We’ve heard from people that we really didn’t know that he had touched their lives,” Susan said. “I wish my son knew how many lives he really touched… To see as a parent that he really did. He was doing good things, making people smile and have good days. That’s something I’m proud of.”

Also sharing kind words from Harrison’s family was his grandmother, Judy Tuttle.

Judy recalled how she had the pleasure of spending a good amount of time with him as he was growing up.

She spoke especially fondly for the memories she has of Harrison as a child, adding she is quite proud of him for his high school and SWIC graduation.

Though he only worked with Harrison for a brief time, Waterloo High School Band Director Zach Smith described the time he had Harrison as a student with great enthusiasm, noting how big of a personality he had and how he managed to light up the room just stepping into class.

“Harry was an extremely outgoing kid,” Smith said. “When he walked in the room, he filled the room with his personality. He was a hoot to have around.”

Douglas and Susan spoke more generally about the response they’ve seen from the community.

“Waterloo and Monroe County in general is a community that takes care of its own,” Douglas said. “When there’s a tragedy like this, whether people knew him or not, I think they’d feel that one of their own has passed.”

They also stressed how they’re trying to keep positive amid the tragedy, with the clear marks he left on so many in the community emphasizing how good of a life he lived.

“We’re trying to celebrate the joy that he brought to us and to others,” Susan said. “Although it was a short life, it was a good life. A lot of happiness and a lot of love.”

For Harrison’s full obituary, click here.