Motorcycle rider hurt in head-on crash SE of Bend

An Oregon City motorcyclist was flown to a Bend hospital for treatment Friday after two dirt bikes collided head-on in an off-road riding area southeast of Bend, authorities said.

Deschutes County 911 got a second-hand report of the crash from Lake County dispatchers around 1:50 p.m., said sheriff’s Deputy James Whitcomb, assistant search and rescue coordinator.

GPS coordinates provided by Lake County placed the crash area on Trail 30 just south of Forest Sesrvice Road 21, south of China Hat Butte in the East Fort Rock off-highway vehicles riding area, Whitcomb said.

La Pine Fire District medics were dispatched, as well as a sheriff’s deputy, a Foreset Service law enforcement officer and four Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SAR members.

An investigation found riders Jason Routley, 43, of Oregon City, and Dennis Mantel, 46, of Estacada, were going about 20 mph on the same trail toward each other. They were unable to avoid impact after having about 65 feet of space between them to react, Whitcomb said.

Routley was flown by AirLink helicopter to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries. Mantel did not need medical treatment at the scene.

Whitcomb said both riders were wearing helmets and said they have been riding dirt bikes for many years.