FORKS — A 14-year-old boy was injured when the dirt bike he was riding collided with a log truck near Forks on Tuesday, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said.
The boy, who was not identified by authorities because of his age, suffered a broken scapula and third-degree burns after the crash on Merchants Road just outside of Forks at 5:07 p.m. Tuesday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Anderson said.
The boy was transported by ambulance from Forks Community Hospital to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
“His injuries were considered serious but not life-threatening, and he is believed to be in stable condition,” Anderson said Wednesday.
“The juvenile was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision which most likely kept his injuries from being more severe.”
Arriving deputies found the boy on top of the dirt bike in the southbound lane of Merchants Road at about 5:08 p.m. Tuesday, Anderson said.
The log truck was parked on Hemlock View Road about 20 feet from where the dirt bike came to a rest.
Lights on
A witness said the log truck was headed north on Merchants Road. The truck had all of its lights on and did not appear to be speeding when it turned left onto Hemlock View Road, Anderson said.
The dirt bike was traveling south on Merchants Road at a high rate of speed and was not equipped with lights, according to the witness.
“The dirt bike collided with the rear passenger side of the log truck,” Anderson said.
“The log truck had already turned onto Hemlock View Drive but the back end of the truck was still on Merchants Road as the dirt bike ran into the back end of the truck.”
The log truck driver, 30-year-old Drew Boucher of Forks, “barely saw the dirt bike as it was a dark and rainy night and the dirt bike was not equipped with a headlight,” Anderson said.
Stopped vehicle
Boucher stopped the truck when he heard the collision and checked on the condition of the boy, Anderson said.
The collision remained under investigation Wednesday.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
