Medford Motorcyclist Killed En Route to 'Rolling Thunder'
ADEL, Ore. -- A Medford man died Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a rock wall on Highway 140E just west of Adel in Lake County.
The victim was reportedly en route to Washington, DC to attend a POW and veteran's memorial event called "Rolling Thunder," Oregon State Police reported.
OSP Sgt. Steve Yates reports that at 1:45 p.m. Walter Smith, 64, from Medford, was
operating a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle traveling with a friend on a
separate motorcycle eastbound on Highway 140E near milepost 25. As
Smith attempted a sharp right curve, his motorcycle
traveled across the highway and off the westbound shoulder where it
collided with a rock embankment.
Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was wearing a protective helmet.
OSP troopers from the Lakeview worksite are completing the investigation.
Lake County Sheriff's Office, Lakeview Disaster Unit, and ODOT assisted at the scene.
