Sisters man killed in motorcycle crash NW of Redmond

A 29-year-old Sisters man was killed Sunday evening when his motorcycle left the curve on a road northwest of Redmond and struck a tree and fence, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, Oregon State Police and Redmond Fire Department medics were called to the scene of the crash, reported around 6:40 p.m. on Northwest Helmholtz Way near La Mesa Lane, said sheriff’s Sgt. Vance Lawrence.

But medics determined that the victim, identified as Shemaiah Gillan, died at the scene, Lawrence said in a news release early Monday.

Gillan was riding a 2006 Yamaha R-6 sport bike heading south on Helmholtz when he failed to negotiate a corner on Helmholtz between El Camino and La Mesa Lanes, the sergeant said.

The rider, who was wearing a helmet, was going around a right-hand curve when the motorcycle left the road on the left-hand side, hitting a tree and fence, officials said.

No other vehicles were involved, and the weather was clear and pavement dry at the time of the crash, Lawrence said.

Alcohol or drugs were not believed to be factors in the crash, but Lawrence said “it appears that excessive speed is a factor in this crash.”

The crash investigation closed Helmholtz Way for a few hours, he added.