Motorcyclist in Sunday Freeway Crash Dies From Injuries

Richard Graybeal reportedly died about 3:30 a.m. today from injuries sustained in the Sunday crash.

Salem-News.com

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) - Oregon State Police has been notified that a Medford-area man seriously injured Sunday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a sport utility vehicle southbound Interstate 5 just south of the Brownsville interchange died early Tuesday morning at a hospital.

76-year old Richard Graybeal of Medford, crashed Sunday during a lane change on I-5 at milepost 216.

OSP says he collided with a 1987 Jeep Cherokee driven by 52-year old Thomas C. Olson of Redding, California. The OSP investigation indicated that the Jeep was in the right hand lane following the motorcycle.

The Jeep moved into the left lane to begin passing the motorcycle when the motorcycle also began to change lanes and collided with the right rear quarter panel of the Jeep.

After impact, both the motorcycle and Mr. Graybeal went down and slid nearly 300 feet before coming to a stop on the right southbound shoulder. Olson was able to drive the Jeep to a stop on the same highway shoulder just south of the downed motorcycle and operator.

Mr. Graybeal was wearing a protective helmet according to police, and transported by REACH Air helicopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield. He reportedly died about 3:30 a.m. from injuries sustained in this crash.

Olson and his two male passengers, ages 14 and 15, were not injured. They were using safety restraints.