Motorcycle crash kills two on Hwy 20
ALBANY, Ore. -- A Salem-area couple died in a motorcycle crash on Highway 20 Saturday afternoon, Oregon State Police said.
At around 3:15 p.m. Edmund and Joan Cote were riding on their Harley Davidson motorcycle, traveling westbound on Highway 20. When they entered a corner near milepost 35 (east of Sweet Home) the bike traveled off the right side of the road and into a guardrail.
The Joan Cote, 58, flew over the guardrail and down an embankment. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Edmund Cote, 61, was the motorcycle operator. He was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center by LifeFlight helicopter where he later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Both of the Cotes were wearing helmets and protective gear. State Police troopers from the Albany Command office are continuing an investigation into this crash.
The Oregon Department of Transportation reported closures and traffic delays for nearly two hours around the crash site.
Rest in Paradise..... Â They were doing what they love. Â Prayers to their family and friends....
Very sad. Peace to the Families. I have to agree with givup about older riders with a minimal amount of experience. Lots of them out there these days. That is a big powerful machine.  I've been riding 40 plus years now, been down twice, neither too serious. Hit by a car once, and got into the "marbles" in a corner once. Both over 20 years ago. Be safe out there. RIP Cote's.
As soon as I read the headline I though of my friend who went out on a ride yesterday. Too sad all the friends and family that have to deal with this.
The statistics for Cruiser fatalities involving riders over 50 has risen at an alarming rate in the last 5 years alone, out pacing the 20-35 year old riders on sportbikes. There was no explanation for the increase, they are just statistics, but I know first hand that the Cruiser is considerably heavier,by sometimes 200-300 lbs. They don't corner as well, or brake as quickly as the sportbikes. I see more young riders on  the sport models riding like idiots, but find more riders my age in the obiturary columns of the news. Very sad for these folks and their families.Â
 @flor3nc3 I think the increase is just simply allot more people are riding Harley's. It used to be mostly  the hardcore bikers. Most of whom stop riding before 60. Now you have the average guy getting a Harley. I laugh at  one my friend he thinks he is a biker. I tell him no you are not a biker. You are a man who owns a Harley. My in-laws owned a biker bar in southern California I know the difference.Â
@givupongod @flor3nc3 You need to be a biker to ride a Harley??
 @8203432  @givupongod  @flor3nc3 I am saying allot of men over 35 are buying Harleys thinking they can handle one. Even though they have very minimal experience riding. And the casualties are going up in numbers and age. I don't see these older guys buying rice burners.
Given there isn't any real damage to the area it is incredibly sad that they both lost their lives to that guardrail. I am not interested in speculating if they were going to fast or missed their mark navigating the curve, it is just sad. May their families find peace that they were doing what they enjoyed.