OSP: Motorcycle rider critically injured in crash

By KPIC.com Staff Published: Apr 29, 2012 at 11:22 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 30, 2012 at 10:26 AM PDT

GLIDE, Ore. -- An 18-year-old Roseburg man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon, after he was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in Glide.

Oregon State Police troopers responded to Highway 138 in Glide for a report of a car hitting a motorcycle in Glide at around 3:10 p.m.

Sgt. Matt Bowersox of the Roseburg area command says that Austin L. Atkinson, 18, of Roseburg, was heading westbound on his motorcycle, when he was hit by a PT Cruiser driven by Nancy J. Andrich, 62, of Glide.

Troopers say Andrich was turning left from the center turn lane, and pulled into the path of Atkinson and his bike.

Both vehicles collided nearly head-on, and the impact was hard enough to make the airbags deploy in the PT Cruiser..

Atkinson was wearing a helmet, but was seriously injured and taken to Mercy, and then transferred to Sacred Heart at RiverBend in Springfield.

As of 10:00 a.m. Monday, officials at Sacred Heart say Atkinson is listed in critical condition in the ICU.

Andrich was treated at the scene for minor injuries, and was cited by troopers for making a dangerous left turn.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Douglas County Fire District #2 and Glide Rural Fire District emergency personnel.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.