Bend Cyclist Badly Hurt in Collision With SUV

An intoxicated Bend man riding a mountain bike down the middle of a southeast Bend road while not wearing a helmet was critically injured Thursday when he repeatedly swerved into the path of an SUV and they eventually collided, police said.

Around 4:20 p.m., officers responded to the reported collision on Centennial Boulevard near Woodland Avenue, said Lt. Chris Carney.

An investigation found Brad Allen Walker was riding a Trek mountain bike northbound on Centennial, toward Woodland, while Mary Ellen Hudson, 21, also of Bend, was headed south at the wheel of a 1992 Jeep Wrangler. Carney said.

Walker was riding his bike in the middle of the road, Carney said, so Hudson moved to the far right of her lane, the lieutenant said.

Walker then swerved toward Hudson?s SUV, causing her to try and swerve to her left, Carney said. But Walker then swerved again, to the right, and rode his bike into the path of Hudson?s Jeep.

The resulting collision severely injured Walker?s left leg and also caused a head injury as well, Carney said.

Walker was taken by ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, where a nursing supervisor said he was in critical condition Thursday night.

(Police indicated Walker was a transient, but a family member contacted NewsChannel 21 Thursday night to say that was incorrect.)

Carney said officers determined that Walker was intoxicated and alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Carney said police have determined Hudson was not at fault. Charges against Walker will be determined when the investigation is concluded, he added.