http://www.katu.com/news/59789107.html

10 injured, two critically in multiple-motorcycle crash

WILSONVILLE, Ore. – An accident involving almost 30 motorcycles just south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5 Friday afternoon injured several people, two critically.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. near milepost 282. LifeFlight airlifted Herbert Sinclair of Heyburn, Idaho and David Bowyer of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively. Both were motorcyclists.

Representatives of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue said that it treated eight patients for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones. They were also taken to area hospitals.

The accident closed northbound lanes of Interstate 5 for over two hours.

The motorcyclists were part of a local motorcycle club called Brothers Speed which was established in May 1969, according to its Web site. It has chapters in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, specifically in Portland, Ore. Camas, Wash., and Boise, Idaho.

Oregon State Police said the motorcyclists were riding in standard formation – two columns – when traffic ahead slowed suddenly. The two lead motorcyclists were able to avoid a collision by maneuvering clear of the stopped traffic, but the rest of the motorcyclists could not stop in time, causing a chain-reaction of crashes with the rest of the group.

A witness to the crash, Terry Scott, said he and his girlfriend were driving northbound from Salem behind the motorcycles when he witnessed an SUV, that was driving in front of the group of motorcycles, suddenly slow down or slam on its brakes.

“It was a domino effect,” Scott said. “There were bikes and people and gear flying.”

When Capt. Mike Towner of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene with his crew from Wilsonville he said "it was ordered mayhem. There were almost two dozen motorcycles scattered across the freeway, and firefighters from Aurora and Canby providing medical care to injured bikers, as non-injured bikers tried to assist."

TVF&R said there were at least two SUVs that were also involved in the crash.

A club insider, who didn’t want to be identified, said the bikers were in town from all over the Northwest to celebrate an annual birthday celebration of the club. She said that a motorcycle accident like the one that happened Friday is unheard of.

“Normally it’s one motorcycle, maybe two,” she said. “To see the scale of 20 to 30 bikes that are riding together have an accident of that magnitude – I’ve never seen before.”

She said she grew up around these bikers and said despite perceptions, they’re cautious.

“I know some people say they must be up to no good: They were racing or doing something. But anyone who’s familiar with Harley-riding knows you don’t race a Harley, you don’t do tricks on your Harley. You just ride,” she said.

Members of the club declined to be interviewed for this story. They said they are focusing on taking care of their brothers.

Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate the accident.

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most cruisers I see riding in groups only allow 1 or 2 bike lenghts. At 60 MPH A 1 second is 85 ft.

Kurt

That's sad to hear...... I hope the one's that got hurt heal quickly....

http://www.katu.com/news/local/59789107.html

Video at the bottom of the page.....

Take a look at the 1st and esp the 3rd video from their site:

http://www.brotherspeedmcoregon.com/content/brothers-speed-videos

Per the news cast in Mike's post, they were doing 70. I hope a lot of people learn from their mistake.

Kurt

I hope these guys weren't riding a little too tight, maybe just a bit complacent because they always ride together and didn't stagger adequately. I wasn't there so I couldn't say for sure but you'd think they'd have maintained adequate space such that more than 20 riders wouldn't go down on each other. Scary! I know that my closest mishaps have occurred in group riding situations, however, and that's why I usually try to bring up the rear from a distance. I hope these guys heal up well. I have a big group ride coming up next week. We'll have a safety/spacing/signals talk at breakfast before we go. I believe all group rides should start that way.

Sounds kinda like the cage driver in the suv in front of them might have purposely slammed on the brakes, because the witness said that traffic was flowing well. So what was the reason for the suv slamming on the brakes? Makes you wonder.

My Thoughts exactly. Wonder if something occured earlier and the
cager decided to take out some bikers. Hit the brakes to scare
them but went to far.
Chris

That was my thought, too. Also, I'm sure the driver of the SUV is in for some serious difficulties in the near future. Financially, of course...

iminthegaragedear wrote:
I hope these guys weren't riding a little too tight, maybe just a bit complacent because they always ride together and didn't stagger adequately. I wasn't there so I couldn't say for sure but you'd think they'd have maintained adequate space such that more than 20 riders wouldn't go down on each other. Scary! I know that my closest mishaps have occurred in group riding situations, however, and that's why I usually try to bring up the rear from a distance. I hope these guys heal up well. I have a big group ride coming up next week. We'll have a safety/spacing/signals talk at breakfast before we go. I believe all group rides should start that way.

I like riding with others, but always get a little nervous when it involves riding with someone new to the group. The people I ride with all like to keep spacing between the bikes at a reasonable distance and we're not focused on breaking speed records to get from one point to the next. A couple weeks ago I witnessed a group of riders (about 12) riding side by side and in close formation. Even under good conditions I thought they were playing with fire; however, in this situation it was very windy and the bikes were being pushed around. Obviously these guys had ridden together a lot and knew how to handle their bikes. However, those kind of situations certainly create an environment where accidents such as those described above can occur.

Ride safe!

Riding in a group always makes me wary.

Most don't ride with enough of a cushion between them and the bike ahead and it sounds like that was the major problem with this accident. Even IF the cage drive slammed on brakes on purpose if they'd had the right cushion all would have been fine.

My first, and hopefully only accident on a bike was due to ME not giving the pickup ahead of me enough space. My fault that I had to veer into the lane next to me to avoid a rear ender. Lucky for me the bump & run that resulted was much less serious than if I'd slid into the pickup.

Good lesson for us all: Remember to always leave space to stop. I don't think we can say that enough!

Hope all soon recover to enjoy riding again!

-M7

Not to point blame at anyone this group is known for rideing fast and anyone that knows the area knows that just about any day you come up I-5 that traffic just comes to a crawl for no reason and within 3 miles it clears up I have had to hit the skids myself comeing into Wilsonville you will be driveing at 65 mph then all at once everyone just starts hitting thier brakes it has caused many accidents !! I have been in smaller groups we don't ride side by side we stagger with plenty of spaceing ! I just don't want cagers getting blamed when it's not allways thier fault !!