Fatality Following Bicycle vs Pickup Crash on Hwy 131

This accident took place between Netarts and Tillamook, on a road with no shoulders.

Fatal bicycle vs. pickup truck accident near Tillamook. Photo: OSP

(TILLAMOOK, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Friday afternoon's crash involving a bicyclist and pickup on Highway 131 between Netarts and Tillamook.

OSP was notified this morning that the bicyclist died from injuries sustained in the crash early Monday morning at a Portland-area hospital. An enforcement decision is pending.

On September 19, 2014 at approximately 5:15 p.m., a bicycle ridden by 67-tear old Kerry Lee Kunsman from San Diego, California, was westbound on Highway 131 near milepost 5 when it was struck from behind by a 2011 Ford F350 pickup driven by 74-year old Frank Bohannon, from Oceanside. Both bicycle and rider came to rest in the traffic lane.

Kunsman was seriously injured and initially transported by ground ambulance to Tillamook Regional Medical Center. He was then taken by air ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland where he was in critical condition. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Mr. Kunsman died September 22 at 12:59 a.m. He was wearing a protective helmet.

Bohannon was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation.

According to the lead investigating trooper, the highway where the crash occurred in a curve has two traffic lanes, one westbound and one eastbound, and there is no paved shoulder on the westbound side.

OSP troopers from the Tillamook work site are continuing the investigation. Trooper Aaron Butcher is the lead investigator. The highway was closed several hours for incident response and collision reconstruction.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Netarts-Oceanside Fire District, Tillamook Fire District, and ODOT.

OSP & ODOT urge all drivers to be watchful for vulnerable highway users such as bicyclists and pedestrians on all roads. Useful safety tips and information is available on ODOT's Bicycle Safety website at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/Pages/bicyclistsafety.aspx.