On 7/20/2024 at about 1:05 PM, Officers from the McMinnville Police Department and personnel from the McMinnville Fire District, responded to 911 calls reporting a serious injury motor vehicle crash involving a motorcyclist and a pickup truck. 

The initial investigation indicates that Cooper D. Erickson (21 years of age from McMinnville) was riding a 2000 Kawasaki ZX9 motorcycle northbound on SW Hill Road. The posted speed limit on SW Hill Road is 35 miles per hour. Witnesses reported that Erickson was travelling unsafely, at a high rate of speed. Erickson lost control of the motorcycle just south of the intersection of SW Redmond Hill Road. He was ejected from the motorcycle, and the helmet he was wearing came off his head.

Both Erickson and the motorcycle continued in an uncontrolled high-speed slide, upon the roadway and shoulder. After travelling approximately 250 feet, both Erickson and the motorcycle impacted the passenger side of a 2012 Ford F150 pickup that was making a left turn into a private driveway on the east side of SW Hill Road. The operator of the pickup, and his passenger, were not injured.

Erickson was transported from the crash location by McMinnville Fire District Ambulance to an awaiting Life Flight helicopter at the Willamette Valley Medical Center. Erickson was flown to the Trauma Center at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Sadly, Erickson succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at OHSU. His family has been notified and we extend our sincere condolences to the Erickson family.

The McMinnville Police Department was assisted by the Oregon State Police with on-scene crash reconstruction. No charges or citations are anticipated.

###