Medford motorcyclist dies in crash

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A Medford man on his way to attend a POW and veterans' memorial in Washington, D.C., died today when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a rock wall on Highway 140 near Adel in south-central Oregon, police said.

Walter Smith, 64, lost control of his 2006 Yamaha motorcycle while rounding a sharp curve. The motorcycle sped off the highway shoulder and hit a guard rail, Oregon State Police said in a news release.

Smith, who was traveling with a group of motorcyclists, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, OSP said.

Smith was profiled in a column by Paul Fattig in Sunday's Mail Tribune. Smith suffered from renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer that was considered terminal.

His plan was be in Washington on Memorial Day weekend for the annual gathering of Rolling Thunder, a nonprofit group of motorcycle enthusiasts committed to focusing attention on the POW-MIA issue as well as helping all veterans.

OSP troopers from the Lakeview command center are completing the investigation.

— Chris Conrad

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