Vancouver police: Alcohol, speeding suspected factors in crash involving motorcyclists

Vancouver police say alcohol appears to be a factor on the part of two motorcyclists involved in a serious three-vehicle crash Wednesday in the Minnehaha neighborhood.

Police, fire and medical crews were dispatched at 6:30 p.m. to Northeast St. James Road and Northeast 49th Street.

The crash involved a small green SUV along with the two motorcycles, Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Joe Hudson told The Columbian.

Police determined through an investigation, involving interviews with witnesses, that two motorcyclists were speeding southbound on St. James Road when one struck a Ford Explorer, which ejected the rider and caused the SUV to veer into a power pole, Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said in an email.

The second motorcyclist “ends up laying his bike down,” Kapp said. The rider slid underneath the back of the SUV while their motorcycle skidded down the road, she said.

“Speed and alcohol appear to be a factor on the part of the motorcycle riders,” Kapp said.

The department’s traffic unit is continuing to investigate.

The names of the motorcyclists weren’t available Thursday morning. Both were taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for treatment, while the driver of the SUV did not require treatment, the fire department said.