Medford Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash on Highway 140E Near Adel

The victim was reportedly enroute to Washington, DC to attend a POW and veteran's memorial event called "Rolling Thunder".

Salem-News.com

(ADEL, Ore.) - Police investigators say a Medford-area man died Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a rock wall on Highway 140E just west of Adel in Lake County.

The victim was reportedly enroute to Washington, DC to attend a POW and veteran's memorial event called "Rolling Thunder".

Oregon State Police Sergeant Steve Yates says that at approximately 1:45 p.m. 64-year old Walter Smith was operating a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle traveling with a friend on a separate motorcycle eastbound on Highway 140E near milepost 25.

Yates says that as Mr. Smith attempted to negotiate a sharp right curve, his motorcycle traveled across the highway and off the westbound shoulder where it collided with a rock embankment.

Walter Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police confirm that he was wearing a crash helmet.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Lakeview worksite are completing the investigation.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office, Lakeview Disaster Unit, and ODOT assisted at the scene.