On June 30, 2016 at approximately 3:30PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup Hwy 36 near milepost 12 (near Deadwood).
Preliminary investigation indicates a 1992 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound on Highway 36 when it failed to negotiate a corner, crossing the centerline and sideswiping an eastbound 2007 Dodge pickup.
The motorcycle and its rider came to rest in the north ditch after the collision. The rider, Richard F ARAUJO, age 68, of Deadwood, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge, Elaine R BEERS, age 63, of Swisshome was not injured.
The roadway was restricted to one lane for approximately 3 ?1/2 hours. OSP was assisted on scene by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Western Lane Ambulance. Speed is being investigated as a contributing factor in the crash. More information will be released as it becomes available.
This marks the fourth fatal motorcycle crash on Oregon's highways in less than a week. For information on motorcycle safety, visit the Oregon Department of Transportation's motorcycle safety page at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/pages/motorcyclesafety.aspx
OSP Release from June 26, 2016:
JUNE 24 -- LANE COUNTY
On June 24, 2016 at about 5:15PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a motorcycle versus a pickup on Highway 36 near milepost 7 (near Mapleton).
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound when it failed to negotiate a corner, crossed the centerline, and struck a 1999 Ford Ranger head-on.
The motorcyclist, Michael R LUCIER, age 56, of Swisshome, Oregon, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford, Rodney D PRUETT, age 23, of Florence was not injured.
There were intermittent lane closures on Highway 36 while the investigation was conducted. OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Florence Police.
JUNE 25 -- JOSEPHINE COUNTY
On June 25, 2016 at about 8PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Highway 46 at milepost 7 (Caves Highway near Cave Junction).
The 911 caller, who was a passing motorist, reporting seeing a motorcycle partially down the embankment. The caller also reported the rider was not breathing. Emergency crews arrived on scene and pronounced the motorcyclist deceased.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Triumph motorcycle was eastbound on Highway 46 at milepost 7 when it left the roadway on a corner. The motorcycle struck a tree and the rider, Patrick Michael DALEY, age 57, of Cave Junction, was thrown down the embankment.
Roadway evidence indicates excessive speed was a factor. Highway 46 was closed for approximately 1 hour during the investigation. OSP was assisted by the Illinois Valley Fire Department.
JUNE 26 -- LINN COUNTY
On June 26, 2016 at about 6:45AM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a truck versus motorcycle collision on Interstate 5 at the 235 interchange (just north of Albany). Information received is the truck driver failed to remain at the scene and left the area.
Preliminary information indicates a 1995 Kenworth truck tractor towing a chip trailer had been traveling southbound on Old Salem Road. The truck began to make a left turn onto the Interstate 5 southbound onramp, but turned in front of a northbound 1995 Kawasaki motorcycle.
The motorcyclist crashed as a result of the truck turning into its path. The rider, Kevin R ARGO, age 39, of Lebanon was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel.
The operator of the truck, Ruben L DEFOOR, age 79, of Albany, was later located and is cooperating with the investigation.
The onramp was closed for several hours as the investigation was conducted. OSP was assisted by Albany Fire, Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation. This is an ongoing investigation. More information will be released when available.
Preliminary investigation indicates a 1992 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling westbound on Highway 36 when it failed to negotiate a corner, crossing the centerline and sideswiping an eastbound 2007 Dodge pickup.
The motorcycle and its rider came to rest in the north ditch after the collision. The rider, Richard F ARAUJO, age 68, of Deadwood, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge, Elaine R BEERS, age 63, of Swisshome was not injured.
The roadway was restricted to one lane for approximately 3 ?1/2 hours. OSP was assisted on scene by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Western Lane Ambulance. Speed is being investigated as a contributing factor in the crash. More information will be released as it becomes available.
This marks the fourth fatal motorcycle crash on Oregon's highways in less than a week. For information on motorcycle safety, visit the Oregon Department of Transportation's motorcycle safety page at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/pages/motorcyclesafety.aspx
OSP Release from June 26, 2016:
JUNE 24 -- LANE COUNTY
On June 24, 2016 at about 5:15PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a motorcycle versus a pickup on Highway 36 near milepost 7 (near Mapleton).
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound when it failed to negotiate a corner, crossed the centerline, and struck a 1999 Ford Ranger head-on.
The motorcyclist, Michael R LUCIER, age 56, of Swisshome, Oregon, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford, Rodney D PRUETT, age 23, of Florence was not injured.
There were intermittent lane closures on Highway 36 while the investigation was conducted. OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Florence Police.
JUNE 25 -- JOSEPHINE COUNTY
On June 25, 2016 at about 8PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash on Highway 46 at milepost 7 (Caves Highway near Cave Junction).
The 911 caller, who was a passing motorist, reporting seeing a motorcycle partially down the embankment. The caller also reported the rider was not breathing. Emergency crews arrived on scene and pronounced the motorcyclist deceased.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Triumph motorcycle was eastbound on Highway 46 at milepost 7 when it left the roadway on a corner. The motorcycle struck a tree and the rider, Patrick Michael DALEY, age 57, of Cave Junction, was thrown down the embankment.
Roadway evidence indicates excessive speed was a factor. Highway 46 was closed for approximately 1 hour during the investigation. OSP was assisted by the Illinois Valley Fire Department.
JUNE 26 -- LINN COUNTY
On June 26, 2016 at about 6:45AM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a truck versus motorcycle collision on Interstate 5 at the 235 interchange (just north of Albany). Information received is the truck driver failed to remain at the scene and left the area.
Preliminary information indicates a 1995 Kenworth truck tractor towing a chip trailer had been traveling southbound on Old Salem Road. The truck began to make a left turn onto the Interstate 5 southbound onramp, but turned in front of a northbound 1995 Kawasaki motorcycle.
The motorcyclist crashed as a result of the truck turning into its path. The rider, Kevin R ARGO, age 39, of Lebanon was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel.
The operator of the truck, Ruben L DEFOOR, age 79, of Albany, was later located and is cooperating with the investigation.
The onramp was closed for several hours as the investigation was conducted. OSP was assisted by Albany Fire, Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation. This is an ongoing investigation. More information will be released when available.