I-84 Motorcyclist identified in fatal accident
Fatal on East I-84
Reader upset with our coverage.
Oregon State Police gave the following information identifying the motorcyclist who was killed in a collision on Wednesday at milepost 76 on Interstate 84.
Trooper Michael Holloran gave the following narrative:
On Wednesday, July 15th, 2020, at approximately 11:17 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a motorcycle versus Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash near MP 76.2 on I-84 eastbound approximately six miles west of The Dalles. Preliminary investigation revealed that a red 2000 Ducati motorcycle operated by Nelson Ray Martin, age 42, of Hood River, Oregon, was traveling in the fast lane and overtaking a 2020 Mack semi truck that was pulling a 2000 Western trailer operated by Angela Lynn Biery, age 50, of Pendleton, Oregon, when for unknown reasons Martin turned the Ducati over in the fast lane and slid under the Western trailer. Martin suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
READER FEELS CCC MADE POOR CHOICE
From Linda Snyder Cassie Beeks:
I can see where your publication would want to stay on top of breaking news stories; however, it is poor journalistic choice to give the gory details and chastise the driver of the cycle probably before even the police had arrived or the next of kin had been notified. If you are seeking credibility in the your trade, it is best to stick to the facts, speak to police rather than taking a motorist’s judgement of why and how this tragic act happened. I strongly recommend that if you want to succeed in your efforts, stick to the facts. You may not be the first to post but at least you will not be spreading rumors that could impact those involved and their families even more than necessary. This is not meant to be mean, but as a writer, I cannot let this kind of reporting go unchecked.
A GOOD POINT
I do believe I added to the pain of the family by reporting the exact comments of witnesses in regard to the detail of the accident scene. I apologize for that. Honest Local News should also include a greater sense of empathy than I showed on Wednesday. I took the story offline on Wednesday evening and have edited it with Linda’s points in mind. Please forgive my error and thank you Linda Snyder Cassie Beeks for giving me a better center to work from. - Sincerely, Tom Peterson
THE STORY FROM WEDNESDAY POST EDITS
A fatal collision between a semi-truck and motorcycle rider at milepost 75 on eastbound I- 84 occurred at 11:17 a.m. this morning, July 15. Oregon State Police responded to the scene. Traffic was backing up for several miles. More information to come.
EDIT: July 15, 2020 1:36 P.M.
Robbie Denning and Cole Goodwin reported seeing the motorcyclist passing them in the left lane at a considerable speed only moments before the crash occurred. “We were headed into work and we saw a red motorcycle … pass us,” said Goodwin “Only moments later we turned a corner and there was a man standing in the center medium waving his arms and trying to get the attention of oncoming traffic.
Denning and Goodwin said it was clear that the motorcyclist had been killed based on what they saw at the scene. “We knew immediately that the person we’d seen pass us only a moment ago must have died in the collision… My thoughts go out to their friends and family.”
“A semi truck and two other cars had pulled off, two people were on their phones and about ten minutes later we saw OSP and firetrucks headed westbound,” said Goodwin, “The people who’d pulled off to help looked absolutely shaken. It’s horrifying how awful these kinds of accidents can be,” said Goodwin.
CAUTION: YOUR NEIGHBOR AHEAD
Over five thousand people have died in motorcycle accidents every year since 2008. In 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled. In 2015, there were 1,090 motorcycle crashes on Oregon roads, resulting in 980 people injured and 60 killed.
