07/14/09 Bend
 
UPDATE: 
 
On Monday, 07-13-09 at 7:01 PM Bend Police and Fire department personnel were dispatched to a report of an injury vehicle crash involving a bicycle and motorcycle at the intersection of OB Riley Rd and Empire Ave.  Arriving officers determined that all of the involved parties had been injured in the crash.  Bend Officers were assisted in providing first aid at the scene by an Oregon State Trooper until fire medic units arrived. 
 
54 year old James W. Gardner, who was riding a gas powered bicycle, was transported to St. Charles Medical Center with life threatening head and leg injuries.   He subsequently died from those injuries.   The 41 year old man driving the motorcycle and his passenger,  a 38 year old woman, were transported with non-life threatening injuries.
 
Investigation determined that the motorcycle was northbound on OB Riley behind a Jeep Cherokee.  The jeep turned right onto NE Empire Avenue and the motorcycle continued north on OB Riley. Gardner who was operating a gas powered bicycle was westbound on Empire Ave and pulled into the path of the motorcycle.
 
Gardner was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. 
 
Speed and alcohol are not a factor in the crash.
 
7/13/09 Terrebonne and Bend
 
by Ariel Wesler
 
It's an unusual sight and almost eerie, an entirely empty highway.  It happened around 4pm at the intersection of Highway 97 and Lower Bridge Way.
 
A car heading northbound slowed to make a left turn onto Barberry Drive near Lower Bridge.  The car behind rear ended the vehicle, pushing it into oncoming traffic.  All injuries were non-life threatening.
 
"It appears that the driver was not paying attention and rear ended the vehicle in front," said Sgt. Mike Biondi with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.
 
 
Highway 97 remain closed until about 7pm as tow trucks worked to clear the wreckage.
 
 
Another accident shortly after 7pm involved a motorcycle and a bicyclist at the intersection of O.B. Riley Road and Empire Avenue in Bend.
 
The bicyclist was taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Redmond with serious injuries.  The motorcycle riders were transported with minor injuries.  
 
"A vehicular basically a motor cycle vs a bicycle crash. On arrival the bicycle rider was seriously and has been transported, the motorcycle rider and passenger where also transported, after the motorcycle went down after the collision," said Lt. Ken Stenkamp with the Bend Police Department.
 
Bend police shut down the intersection during the investigation.  Authorities are still determining who was at fault.