Wash. man killed when motorcycle crashes into John Day River

JOHN DAY, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Washington state man was killed Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle left state Highway 402 in Grant County, went down an embankment and into the John Day River, Oregon State Police said.

Troopers and emergency personnel responded around 4 p.m. to the reported crash on Highway 402 near milepost 2, OSP Captain Tim Fox said.

A preliminary investigation found that a Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Robert Julian, 63, of Kennewick, Washington was heading north on the highway when it left the road, traveled down an embankment and into the John Day River, Fox said.

Julian was pulled from the water by his riding companions, Fox said. John Day and Monument personnel attempted life-saving efforts, but Julian sustained fatal injuries.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Grant County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.