A Sunday afternoon ride on Highway 126 turned deadly when a Florence motorcyclist was killed and a second rider was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash near Rose Hill Road. Investigators say two Harley-Davidson motorcycles slammed into a Volvo 240 that had slowed to turn into a nearby mobile home park, and Oregon State Police troopers rushed to the scene. Traffic on Highway 126 was shut down for about an hour while crews worked the wreck and cleared the roadway.
Troopers Describe Chain-Reaction Collision
According to KATU, Oregon State Police reported that a 50-year-old Florence woman driving eastbound in a Volvo slowed to turn left into a mobile home park. Behind her, a green Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail ridden by 38-year-old Brandon Taylor Oetken failed to stop and rear-ended the Volvo.
The impact threw Oetken from his motorcycle. A white Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic ridden by 65-year-old John Carlos Moreno then hit the back of the green bike, troopers said. Moreno reportedly lost control, and his motorcycle slid an estimated 150 feet before coming to a stop.
Victims and Roadside Response
Several passing drivers pulled over and tried to help before first responders arrived. Emergency crews transported the Volvo driver to a hospital as a precaution.
Initial reports indicated that one motorcyclist died at the scene and the second rider was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, Coast Radio reported. Oregon State Police shut down the highway in both directions while troopers investigated and debris was removed.
Safety Questions on a Busy Coastal Connector
Highway 126 serves as a key link between the coast and inland communities, and safety along this stretch has been on the state’s radar for years. Planning documents highlight ongoing concerns where driveways and local turns intersect with faster-moving traffic between Florence and the interior.
The corridor strategy calls for targeted measures such as access management and speed studies to cut down on serious crashes, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. State troopers also point to steady enforcement against what they call the “Fatal 5” traffic behaviors as part of a broader push to reduce deadly collisions, per the Oregon State Police strategic roadmap.
Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate the crash and have not released additional details. As of KATU's report, the highway remained closed for about an hour while troopers processed the scene.
