On Friday, October 16, 2020, at approximately 8:00 P.M., a Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant attempted to contact a Suzuki motorcycle southbound on Baseline Rd. for a traffic violation.  The motorcycle accelerated, turned northbound onto Toll Bridge Rd. and eluded the sergeant. 

The sergeant, approximately one minute after the attempted initial contact, came upon the motorcycle crashed on Toll Bridge Rd. south of the intersection of Hwy 35.

Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded.

Oregon State Police is investigating the crash and preliminary investigation revealed that the Suzuki, operated by Lyle Halverson (34) of Hood River, was northbound on Toll Bridge Road at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a right hand corner, entered the southbound lane and crashed into a Ford F-150 pickup operated by Guy Wertgen (53) of Parkdale.

Halverson sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Wertgen was not injured.

OSP was assisted by Parkdale Fire and Rescue.