| From The
Olympian September 29, 2006:
Motorcyclist killed in accident on Bald Hills Road identified
The Olympian
The motorcyclist who died Thursday night when he drove off of Bald Hill Road at 122nd Lane in Thurston County and struck a tree has been identified as a soldier based out of Fort Lewis, a State Patrol press release said today.
According to witnesses, Gerry Willard Christensen, 24, of Yelm, was driving a 2006 Suzuki SV650K Sport Bike southbound on Bald Hill Road S.E. around 5:40 p.m. at a high rate of speed. He reportedly passed a vehicle to the left, over a double yellow line in a curve when an oncoming vehicle approached from the northbound lane.
Christensen swerved back into the southbound lane but went off the roadway and struck a tree. He sustained life-threatening injuries and died at the scene.
He was wearing a helmet and had a motorcycle endorsement. Investigators believe that speed and improper passing contributed to this collision.
The roadway was blocked for approximately 3 hours for the investigation. |
