Police: Two motorcyclists die as SUV tries to pass

Scene of a Highway 97 double-fatality crash.

Scene of the Highway 97 crash on Friday, where two on a motorcycle died. Both were wearing protective gear.

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Story Published: Oct 3, 2009 at 2:11 PM PST

By KATU.com and News Wires

Update: Motorcyclists identified. Next of kin sought for the motorcycle operator.

CHILOQUIN, Ore. - A crash in Southern Oregon leaves two on a motorcycle dead when police said an SUV tried to pass a big-rig and pulled into the motorcyclists' lane, hitting the bike head on.

Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into Friday afternoon's fatal traffic crash that resulted in the death of two men and injuries to a Redmond-area couple on Highway 97 north of Chiloquin. The names of the Redmond couple are being released. The names of the two male victims from Nevada are still withheld pending next of kin notification.

Just after noon on Oct. 2 a Ford sport utility vehicle driven by 63-year-old Gary Couch, from Redmond, was northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 226 when police said it attempted to pass a commercial truck. "As the Ford pulled out to pass it did so in the path of a southbound motorcycle with two male occupants," states the state police press release.

The Ford crashed into the motorcycle head-on, ejecting both motorcycle occupants. After impact, police said the motorcycle crashed into the front rear axle of a semi-trailer pulled by the commercial truck.

The motorcycle operator, age 65, and passenger, age 49, were both from the state of Nevada and were both wearing protective helmets. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Couch was transported by ground ambulance to Sky Lakes Hospital in Klamath Falls with minor injuries. His wife/passenger, 68-year-old Susan Couch, was transported by air ambulance to Sky Lakes Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use information is pending confirmation.

The truck driver, Alan Galloway, a 53 year old from Priest River in Idaho, was not injured.

State police troopers from Oregon's Gilchrist and Klamath Falls offices are conducting the investigation. Klamath County Sheriff Office, Oregon Department of Transportation and Chiloquin Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Highway 97 was closed about 3 and a half hours on Friday while the accident was assessed and cleared.

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