Redmond woman seriously injured in Hwy. 20 motorcycle-car crash

A Redmond motorcyclist lost control on a curve along U.S. Highway 20 west of Santiam Pass Thursday afternoon and went into the oncoming lane, where it was struck by an oncoming pickup truck, seriously injuring his wife, Oregon State Police reported.

OSP Capt. Bill Fugate said Tony Larson, 62, of Redmond, riding with his wife, Dianna Larson, 50, were heading east on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when the crash occurred around 1:15 p.m. near milepost 76, five miles west of the pass summit.

Larson lost control on a sweeping curve and his motorcycle slid into the oncoming lane, where they were struck head-on by a Ford Ranger pickup driven by Tyson Breuer, 26, of Bandon, Fugate said. The two riders were thrown from the motorcycle, which then was struck by a westbound Honda Element driven by David Chase, 27, of Sisters.

Dianna Larson was flown by AirLink helicopter to St. Charles Bend, where a house supervisor said she was in serious condition Thursday night. Tony Larson was taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital, where he was treated and released.

Tony Larson has been cited as a result of the crash, according to Fugate, who said “speed is being considered a contributing factor” in the crash. He did not have information on the citation Thursday night.

The crash shut the highway for about an hour, until one lane reopened in alternating directions with flaggers. It was later open to two-way traffic, using the passing lane, with the westbound lane blocked by wreckage of the three vehicles needing to be towed.