Hwy. 20 motorcycle crash injures couple

A Forest Grove couple was injured Sunday afternoon when their motorcycle crashed along Highway 20 about three miles west of the Santiam Pass summit, Oregon State Police reported.

Around 4:30 p.m., a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle operated by Rickie Ray Taylor, 61, of Forest Grove, was heading west on the downhill grade near milepost 78, negotiating a left-hand curve when the crash occurred, troopers said.

The motorcycle went onto the right should, sideswiped a guardrail and fell on its side, sliding until it came to a rest off the highway, they said.

Taylor was flown to St. Charles-Bend, where a nursing supervisor said he was in fair condition Monday morning.

Passenger Laura Taylor, 62, was thrown from the motorcycle onto an embankment, troopers said. She was taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital, where she apparently was treated and released, as she was not in the hospital directory Monday, the nursing supervisor said.

Both riders were wearing helmets, troopers said, and speed was not believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. OSP is continuing its investigation.

Troopers were assisted at the crash scene by area fire and police, including Black Butte Ranch police and ODOT, OSP reported.