Topic: Please keep these folks in your thoughts...

[Frankenkit]

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/09/crash_possibly_involving_multi.html

From the above link at oregonlive.com:

WILSONVILLE -- Traffic on Interstate 5 north remains backed up for miles after crash a involving about 26 motorcycles from the Brother Speed outlaw motorcycle club.

The crash occured about 2:45 p.m. at milepost 282 south of Wilsonville. All northbound lanes were closed for about an hour. All lanes reopened shortly before 6 p.m., but officials traffic remained backed up or congested in both north and south lanes.

"When we arrived on scene, it was ordered mayhem," said Lt. Mike Towner of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. "There were ... two dozen motorcycles scattered across the freeway."

Two bikers with critical injuries were flown by LifeFlight helicopter ambulances to Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center and OHSU Hospital in Portland. Seven other crash victims with less serious injuries were taken by ambulance.

Why Brother Speed was on the road and where they were going was not known.

Lt. Gregg Hastings, Oregon State Police spokesman, said 26 motorcycles were traveling north in the left lane, following a car, when traffic ahead began slowing. The car and the bikers all tried to slow down, but collided, piling up on the road. A vehicle in the middle northbound lane was reportedly struck by one of the motorcycles, Hastings said.

State troopers rushed to the crash scene, along with crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, American Medical Response and fire departments from Canby, Aurora and St. Paul.

Karen Eubanks, TVF&R spokeswoman, said seven crash victims were treated for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones. Two other patients were treated but refused to go to a hospital.

Police estimate membership of the Brother Speed Motorcycle Club at more than 100 in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Utah. The club, founded in 1969, is one of six in Oregon identified by the state Department of Justice as an outlaw biker gang.

Members of the club wear black and gold colors that depict a grinning, winged skull wearing a helmet and motorcycle goggles. The bulk of the club's Oregon membership meet at clubhouses in Portland and Hillsboro, according to law enforcement sources.

"BROTHER SPEED M/C is a club that is serious about brotherhood, respect, riding fast and building choppers," the club writes on its Oregon Web site. "We build the most bad ass choppers around."

Not sure if anyone here was riding with them, since some of us do have harleys and choppers aside from our CBs...  Please send your prayers/light a candle/send good vibes.

Ride safe out there, brothers 'n sisters.

[Ecosse]

god that's rough. thanks kit... i will.

[Hush]

Always a possibility when riding in large groups, hope they all make it.

[coldright]

Uh, hadn't seen this, but there's a good chance one of them will be my patient tomorrow.  I'm sure they are in good hands tonight!

[Frankenkit]

Yeah, I'm hoping MX doesn't have to stay over after her 16 today to help cover ORs... but either way they're in good hands.

[tramp]

ride too close
ride too fast
i don't mind riding with one or two more but not twenty six
hope everyone is ok
why did they have to say thier a outlaw biker gang according to the fbi

[Frankenkit]

probably because it'd generate more interest in the story, as if massive mayhem wouldn't?

MX and others from her dept. saw a few come in.  Jeans + "Novelty" helmet + tees'n vests torso protection = not so good .   

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yeah, but it sure looks tough and the cool factor is high!! 

Well, not after the fact. 

[MickeyX]

Well, I ended up staying for about 18 hrs total but the OR I had was an unrelated cycle crash. All told, about 10 bikes went down, 1/2 to my hospital, 1/2 to coldright's. As far as I know, no fatalities but I haven't checked since Friday night. Then again, somethings are worse than death IMO. 

They just said what kind of club they are. Same as if it was Dykes on Bikes being a lesbian club... The Brother Speed guys are very proud of their outlaw status so they shouldn't mind it being said. They advertise it actually.

Good luck to all.

[Ecosse]

thanks mx and cr. nobody knows reality like people in your line of work.

[Inigo Montoya]

Maybe I missed it but how did they crash? Was it just too much speed or some road hazard?

[Gordon]

Maybe I missed it but how did they crash? Was it just too much speed or some road hazard?

From what I've read traffic was stopped up ahead, or at least going much slower, and the group of bikers were following the vehicle in front of them, and each other, too closely to be able to stop.  Apparently the two riders in the front of the group managed to swerve around the vehicle in front of them.