Motorcyclist hits bear on Century Drive

A 32-year-old motorcycle rider was flown to a Bend hospital Saturday with non-life-threatening injuries after reportedly striking a bear that ran out in front of her on Century Drive southwest of Bend, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Sheriff’s deputies, the U.S. Forest Service and Sunriver Fire Department medics were dispatched around 4:45 p.m. to the reported injury crash on Century Drive near milepost 45, said sheriff’s Sgt. Troy Gotchy.

The reporting party said Dana Alaine Harriger, 32, of Westfir, Oregon, was riding a 2008 Honda motorcycle when she struck a bear that ran out in front of her.

Harriger was treated by medics at the scene, then flown by AirLink helicopter to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries. She was not listed as a patient Sunday morning, a nursing supervisor said.

Gotchy said the bear that was hit ran from the area and was not found by deputies on scene.

The crash remains under investigation, Gotchy said, adding that alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.