Motorcyclist killed in Highway 97 crash

Oct 08,2007 00:00 by Bend_Weekly_News_Sources

A Redmond, Washington resident died Friday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed on Highway 97 about one mile north of Shaniko in north central Oregon, Oregon State Police reported.

Shortly before 2 p.m. on October 5, a 2003 Honda motorcycle operated by Nels James Carlson, 57, attempted to pass a line of traffic southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 55. The last vehicle in the line was a commerical truck and semi-trailer, and when the pass was initiated in a passing zone Carlson was passing the truck and trailer in a no passing zone.

A northbound vehicle veered to the shoulder to avoid Carlson and swerved to the right in front of the commercial truck and lost control. Carlson and the motorcycle slid onto the west shoulder, down an embankment and into a fence adjacent to the highway.

Carlson, who was wearing a protective helmet, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Oregon State Police troopers from The Dalles and Madras offices were assisted at the scene by ODOT. Personnel from King County Sheriff's Office and a chaplain from the Redmond, Washington Police Ddepartment notified Carlson's family of the crash.