On March 29th, 2016, at about 3:30 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle vs motorcycle crash in the 800 block of Hubbard Creek Road in Umpqua. Preliminary investigation indicates that Carl Helton, age 68 of Sutherlin, was driving his 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle west bound on Hubbard Creek Road. Helton came around a corner and struck the front of a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup that was pulling out onto the roadway. The pickup was being operated by Levi Burson, age 40 of Oakland. Burson was not injured. Helton was pronounced dead at the scene. A second rider, Scott Henderson, age 49 of Roseburg, was riding behind Helton and laid his motorcycle down to avoid the pickup. Henderson was not injured. Accident reconstruction personnel from the Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the investigation. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash. The case remains under investigation.
