Motorcycle Fatality Central Oregon, Sept. 4

On September 2, 2017, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a blue Yamaha sport bike motorcycle was reported to be driving recklessly at high rates of speed in the area just west of Prineville in Crook County. Minutes later, the motorcycle operator was traveling southbound on Woodward Road, approaching Highway 26 where it failed to obey the stop sign posted at Woodward Road at Highway 26. The operator continued across Highway 26 directly in front of a westbound white-cabbed 2017 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer and was struck, killing the rider of the motorcycle immediately. The semi-truck drove up the bank on the west side of the road and overturned, coming to rest on its side in the eastbound lane of Highway 26. The driver of the semi-truck, identified as 51 year old Mossyrock Washington resident Eric Cooper, was transported via ground ambulance to the Prineville area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. The driver/operator of the Yamaha motorcycle was identified as 41 year old Prineville resident, William Eric McCloughan.  Highway 26 was closed for approximately 5 hours for the crash investigation and recovery of the semi tractor-trailer. OSP was assisted at the scene by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, the Prineville Police Department, ODOT and Crook County Fire and Rescue.