DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. — A motorcyclist died, and his passenger suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash near Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort on Tuesday evening, Oregon State Police said.
Troopers responded to the accident at about 6:35 p.m. on June 17. The crash occurred on Forest Service Road 46 near milepost 24. Police said a 36-year-old Sisters man was operating the black Husqvarna motorcycle southbound when it drove off the west shoulder. The bike struck a tree stump after leaving the roadway. Both occupants were ejected from the bike.
The motorcycle operator was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts.
The passenger, Joeana Erica Spackman, 34, of Bend, was airlifted to an area hospital.
Speed and impairment are believed to be contributing factors in the accident, investigators said. Police continue examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The highway remained closed for approximately four hours during the investigation. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Bend Fire and Rescue assisted Oregon State Police at the scene.