Oregon State Police said there were about 30 motorcycles involved, three serious injuries, two of which were taken by LifeFlight to a hospital.Police said that the motorcyclists were traveling together when at least 10 of them crashed. Police said in addition to the three serious injuries, 11 people were taken to the hospital.
A witness to the crash, Terry Scott, said he was driving northbound from Salem with his girlfriend behind the motorcycles when he witnessed an SUV, that was driving in front of the group of motorcycles, suddenly slow down or slam on its brakes. The two lead motorcycles tried to avoid the SUV, but a domino effect then occurred as the motorcycles tried to avoid each other.
Scott and KATU News reporter, Meghan Kalkstein, both said the motorcyclists appear to belong to the Brothers Speed Motorcycle Club which was established in May 1969, according to its Web site. It has chapters in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, specifically in Portland, Ore. Camas, Wash., and Boise, Idaho.
When Capt. Mike Towner of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene with his crew from Wilsonville he said, "it was ordered mayhem. There were almost two dozen motorcycles scattered across the freeway, and firefighters from Aurora and Canby providing medical care to injured bikers, as non-injured bikers tried to assist."
TVF&R said seven patients were treated for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones and were taken to area hospitals.
