Wilsonville Spokesman Online

More crash details released

Police reveal more details in Friday crash involving 26 motorcycles and two SUVs

• By: Josh Kulla  
• Published: 9/23/2009 2:36:18 PM
• Last Updated: 9/24/2009 10:19:29 AM

Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into Friday afternoon’s multi-vehicle traffic crash south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5. Ten motorcyclists traveling together as part of the Brother Speed Motorcycle Club were injured, two critically.

On Tuesday, that agency released further details of the events that led the crash, which involved 26 motorcycles and at least two other passenger vehicles.

According to Lt. Gregg Hastings, 26 motorcycles were traveling northbound in the left inside lane near milepost 282 on Interstate 5 in a formation of two columns around 2:45 p.m. when traffic ahead began to come to a stop. The first two motorcycles maneuvered to avoid a collision with a 2005 Toyota 4Runner driven by Leslie D. Schultz, 26, of Beaverton. But the rest of the motorcycles could not react in time, and many in the front of the column crashed into the 4Runner and each other.

A second vehicle, a 2004 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Kayla D. Knight, 31, of Portland, in the center lane was also struck by one of the motorcycles attempting to avoid the collisions.

Northbound traffic ground to a halt and medical responders were dispatched. At least eight motorcyclists were dispatched to local hospitals by ground ambulance. Two more motorcycle operators identified as Herbert Sinclair, 48, of Heyburn, Idaho, and David Bowyer, 44, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, were transported by LifeFlight helicopter to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively.

Both men were reported in critical condition but have since been upgraded.

Three of the other 8 individuals injured in the crash are identified as Juan Ramon Mata, age 60, Christian J. Gankema, age 40; and, Gary Pawson, age 38, each from Idaho.

Interstate 5 northbound lanes were closed for about two hours before one lane was opened. All lanes of Interstate 5 were open by approximately 5:40 p.m. that evening.

OSP troopers were assisted at the scene by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Transportation, Aurora Fire Department, Canby Fire Department, Wilsonville Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

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