A while back and I don’t recall now how, but I subscribed to an Oregon State Police newsflash service. I don’t forward OSP news, but this is rather significant and involves multiple motorcycles.
At 2:54 (Pacific) there was an OSP report of numerous motorcycles northbound on Interstate 5, near milepost 282 south of Wilsonville who were involved in a crash. One lane northbound is now open following a multi-vehicle crash involving 26 motorcycles. The accident was on I-5 near the Baldock Rest Area and involved two motorcyclists taken by LifeFlight with critical injuries and eight others transported by ground ambulance to area hospitals.
Preliminary information indicates a group of at least 26 motorcyclists were northbound in the left lane on I-5 following a passenger vehicle when traffic ahead began slowing. The car and motorcyclists all tried to slow but collided with one another. A vehicle in the middle northbound lane was reportedly struck by one of the motorcycles. All northbound lanes were closed until about 4:00 p.m. Traffic is reported slow but getting through in one lane. Southbound lanes are open but also very slow.
Let’s hope for only the best to those injured. I’ll provide updates as I learn more.
Brothers Speed Motorcycle Club Accident on I-5
UPDATE 1: Video and still shots taken by Sky8 indicate some of the motorcyclists were members of the Brothers Speed Motorcycle Club. See HERE and HERE (Source: KGW News).
UPDATE 2: KATU and Jet Ranger 2 provide video coverage HERE and confirmed motorcyclists were BSMC members.
UPDATE: September 19, 2009 — The official report is that ten were injured, two critically. Several others involved in the crash were attended too on site by medical personnel, but declined transport to a local hospital. Herbert Sinclair, age 48 (Heyburn, ID) and David Bowyer, age 44 (Coeur d’Alene, ID) were transported by LifeFlight to OHSU and Emanuel Hospital respectively. Names of three others injured in the crash were identified as Jaun Ramon Mata, age 60, Christian J. Gankema, age 40 and Gary Pawson, age 38 all from Idaho. Cause of the accident: was reported as a group of 26 BSMC motorcyclists traveling in a formation of two columns on the inside left hand lane (I-5 North) came upon slowing or stopping traffic. The two front motorcycles maneuvered to avoid a collision with the stopped vehicle, but the rest of the group did not react in time and crashed into the vehicle and into each other. The total number of motorcycles that actually crashed was not confirmed. On scene photos provided by OSP HERE, HERE, and HERE. The group was heading north to take part in the Portland Chapter annual birthday bash and weekend demolition derby.
UPDATE: October 5, 2009 — Sadly it was reported today that David “Detroit Dave” Bowyer from Coeur d’Alene, ID passed away at Legacy Emanuel Hospital where he was being treated since the crash on September 18th.
UPDATE: October 8, 2009 — Detroit Dave’s sister set up a memorial site HERE with information on the funeral services. The BSMC have been posting updates HERE along with information about how you can contribute to a crash fund. The AgingRebel blog has comments posted by “Not Surprised” which provides more detail on the SUV drivers (Leslie D. Schultz — Toyota 4 Runner and Kayla D. Knight — Nissan Pathfinder) which has not been previously released by the media to the public. There were rumors circulating about ATF personnel in the SUV’s, but this was not the case and although the accident continues to be investigated at first glance nothing sinister jumps out about this accident.
Photos courtesy of Lifeflight.org and OSP.
A lot of people mistakenly assume that gambling originated in Las Vegas. The fact is that Reno, NV gambling was the hottest and most entertaining until the 1950’s when Vegas started to staked its claim in the market and solicited clientele away.
Northwest Harley Blog 
