Man Killed and Teen Injured After Dirt Bike Riders Crash Into a Side-by-Side While Jumping a Dune in Oregon

An ATV crash on Sunday near Railroad Hill in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) ended in tragedy when a 35-year-old man died, and a 13-year-old child was injured after their dirt bikes crashed into a side-by-side as they attempted to jump a dune without a spotter.

Coos Bay ATV Crash Ends In Tragedy

Coos Bay investigators, with input from witnesses, have established that the side-by-side was traveling south near Railroad Hill, while the two dirt bike riders were traveling north. Both dirt bike riders were wearing proper riding gear, including helmets and flags.

The side-by-side also had the required safety equipment and a flag.

The side-by-side operator saw the dirt bike riders and came to a complete stop, but the dirt bike riders didn’t see the side-by-side and jumped the dune.

One rider landed on top of the side-by-side, and the other tried to brake but couldn’t stop, crashing head-on into the stationary side-by-side.

Responding to reports of the incident at 5:01 om on Sunday, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Hauser Fire Department, Bay Cities Ambulance, and the U.S. Coast Guard arrived on-scene and, after assessing injuries with the medics, agreed to request a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter from Air Station North Bend to airlift a 35-year-old man in need of trauma care.

The Coast Guard hoisted the man and took him to Bay Area Hospital by aircraft, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The other dirt bike rider, a 13-year-old male, sustained multiple broken bones throughout his body and was taken to Bay Area Hospital and then transferred to Portland for pediatric medical care.

Police confirmed that speed and jumping without a spotter were contributing factors in this unfortunate crash and reminded ATV users that it is a violation and unsafe for all riders of quads, dirt bikes, and side-by-sides to jump without a spotter.