Speeding motorcyclist killed in police chase near Oakridge

OAKRIDGE, Ore. -- A motorcyclist died while trying to elude police Sunday after crashing into a guardrail and tumbling into the road where he was hit by a police car.

Eric Bracken Tyner, 32, from Bend, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Lane County Sheriff's deputy saw Tyner westbound on Highway 58 Sunday evening traveling at about 90 mph, according to the Oregon State Police. The deputy attempted to catch up, but Tyner sped up and the deputy lost sight of the motorcycle. The deputy notified other law enforcement to be on the lookout for the motorcycle.

An Oakridge police officer in an unmarked car spotted Tyner at 7 p.m. on the east end of town and attempted to make a traffic stop. Tyner accelerated to a high rate of speed as a second patrol car joined the chase.

Tyner led the officers on a high-speed chase for eight miles before failing to negotiate a corner in the road, colliding with a guardrail. Tyner was ejected from the motorcycle and fell in the road. Officer Zechariah Ames, a 2 1/2 year veteran of the Oakridge Police Department, was unable to avoid Tyner and struck him with the patrol car.

OSP troopers from the Springfield and Oakridge offices are continuing the investigation. Lane County Sheriff's Office, Oakridge Fire Department, and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 58 was closed about four hours.

Source

Mixed feelings about this...Shouldn't have tried to run, but probably didn't deserve to be killed by the cop for it. Poor judgement all around. More and more states are adopting the "no pursuit" policy if the offender's only wanted for a minor infraction/etc. and tries to run, because the consequences are potentially so much worse than a speeding ticket. Also, the odds are no cop car will catch a well riddden bike if the rider's determined to try to get away. What if this chase ended with an innocent being hurt/killed? Would it be "worth it" to have gotten the guy? Think.