Motorcycle hits badger, Medford man injured
By Andy Gates — Argus Observer
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:18 AM PDT
VALE — A Medford man riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle Sunday morning collided with a badger near Vale and ended up in the hospital with injuries.
The motorcycle operator, Dennis Small, 53, lost control of his bike after hitting the animal, which had crossed U.S. Highway 26 in front of him, northwest of Vale, Oregon State Police Sgt. Mark Duncan said.
The incident occurred around 9:15 a.m., and resulted in injuries to Small’s elbow and knee, Duncan said.
Small was able to call for his own tow, Duncan said, and a passer-by gave him a ride to a nearby hospital.
The animal died.
“The badger was deceased at the scene and later removed,” Duncan said.
Small was more banged up than the motorcycle was, Duncan confirmed.
In other police news:
— A 15-year-old driver from Notus crashed into an Oregon Department of Transportation fence Friday afternoon, and he was cited for careless driving and failing to use a safety belt, Malheur County Undersheriff Brian Wolfe said Monday.
The teenage driver left the scene of the crash, and witnesses said he appeared to have injured his leg.
He later went to the hospital with his family, Wolfe said. The crash occurred around 2:50 p.m. in Ontario along Northwest 18th Street and Washington Avenue, after a bottle got stuck under the break peddal and prevented the driver from stopping, Wolfe said.
“He ran into a fence and glided into a ditch. His leg was hurt,” Wolfe said.
Deputies are still investigating the case to determine if there was a license violation because the licensed passenger in the car was only 16 years old, Wolfe said.
“It appears there was because the other licensed driver was only 16, which would keep him from being valid,” Wolfe said.
Drivers with a permit can drive with licensed drivers 18 years old and older, the undersheriff said.
— A 22-year-old Ontario man was taken to jail Saturday around 1:34 a.m. for reckless driving and attempting to elude police on foot, Wolfe said.
The man, Steven Uhlman, would not stop for a deputy in the Adrian- area along Oregon Highway 201, Wolfe said.
Uhlman stopped his vehicle in front of a residence and went inside, Wolfe said.
When deputies arrived at the home, Uhlman came out, and he was taken to the Malheur County Jail, Wolfe said.
“He said he ran because he didn’t want a speeding ticket,” Wolfe said.
— Oregon State Police arrested a Huntington man Sunday night near Farewell Bend for DUI, OSP Sgt. Mark Duncan said.
The man, Gary Waldrupe, 52, crashed his pickup truck into a ditch, left the vehicle, and police later found him inside a trailer at a nearby campsite, Duncan said.
He had injured his head, and an ambulance out of Weiser responded for him, Duncan said.
“He’s claiming not to be the driver,” Duncan said.
Police determined he was impaired, so he was arrested for DUI, Duncan said. The investigation is continuing, the sergeant said.
