WELCHES, OR (KPTV) -
A 64-year-old motorcycle rider suffered serious injuries when he tried to pass a car making a U-turn on Highway 26 near Welches on Friday.
State police said Phyllis Martin, 79, of Rhododendron, was heading west just before 9 a.m. in the left lane of Highway 26 when she slowed and started making the U-turn to return eastbound.
That's when police said Michael Gaeta of Happy Valley started passing the car on his 2004 Harley Davidson on the left as it was turning.
The motorcycle crashed into the Subaru's front left side, throwing the motorcyclist onto the eastbound lanes of the roadway.
A LifeFlight helicopter responded to take Gaeta to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
He suffered serious injuries, according to police.
Troopers said the man was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
No traffic citations have been issued.
Martin was not hurt.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved.