A female passenger on a motorcycle was seriously injured in a crash Saturday afternoon after the operator lost control of the machine and they were both thrown onto a front yard.
The male operator was injured but the injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
The man lost control of his motorcycle and crashed approximately one mile west of Sweet Home on Highway 228, near Rowell Hill Road, according to Oregon State Police.
At approximately 4:50 p.m., a 2004 Honda motorcycle operated by Tyler Hannen, 21, of Sweet Home was westbound on Highway 228 near milepost 20, Sgt. Craig Flierl said. According to witnesses, the motorcycle passed at least one vehicle in a no-passing zone on a curve.
Upon returning to its lane, the motorcycle “popped a wheelie,” lost control and crossed the eastbound lane where it crashed in a gravel driveway, Flierl said. Both occupants were ejected.
Hannen was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
His passenger, Ashley Bilyeu, 18, of Lebanon, was transported by helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene.
Both were wearing protective helmets.
Oregon Department of Transportation and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District assisted at the scene.
Oregon State Police troopers from the Albany Area Command office are continuing an investigation with the assistance of Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department and Sweet Home Police Department, Flierl said. No enforcement action has been taken at this time, he said.