Two Hurt in Serious Motorcycle Crash Near Hermiston

The car driver was cited for Disobeying a Traffic Control Device - Stop Sign and for Failure to Yield.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(HERMISTON, Ore.) - Police say two people on a motorcycle were seriously injured Saturday evening when their bike collided with a car that had failed to yield at the intersection of Punkin Center Road and Highway 207 northeast of Hermiston.

According to Oregon State Police Sergeant Allan Muhs, a 2001 Chevrolet Impala four-door driven by 43-year old Olivia De La Cruz Ramos from Hermiston, was eastbound on Punkin Center Road and had stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with Highway 207. A 1985 Honda motorcycle was southbound on Highway 207 approaching the same intersection.

Ramos did not see the approaching motorcycle and began to pull out onto Highway 207 to cross over and continued eastbound when it collided with the motorcycle in the southbound lane of Highway 207.

The operator and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected and came to rest along the east shoulder of Highway 207. The motorcycle came to rest in the barrow pit area on the east shoulder.

The motorcycle operator, 28-year old Tracey Ray Roberts of Hermiston, and passenger 19-year old Lacey Leann Sanders of Hermiston, were transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston for serious injuries.

Roberts reportedly has been transferred to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland for further treatment. Both were wearing protective helmets.

Police say Ramos was cited for Disobeying a Traffic Control Device - Stop Sign and for Failure to Yield. Police say she was using safety restraints and was not injured.

Roberts was driving while suspended license. Enforcement action is anticipated at a later date.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, Hermiston Fire Department / Ambulance, and ODOT.