Despite the best efforts of first responders, a motorcycle rider succumbed to his injuries after a crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Butte Creek just north of Raymond. The collision happened on Sunday, July 16, at about 4:46 p.m.

The rider, Salvador “Mr. Peabody” Prieto, 65, of Aberdeen, and his wife, Kathy Prieto, who was on her own motorcycle, were headed northbound on U.S. 101 less than a quarter-mile from Butte Creek when he went off the roadway while negotiating a curve.

He continued on his 2006 Yamaha V-Star motorcycle through a ditch off the northbound shoulder before striking rocks and a culvert. Prieto and the bike flipped over upon impact, and he was ejected off his motorcycle. He was wearing an approved safety helmet.

Responders from the Raymond Fire Department, Pacific County Fire District No. 3, Pacific County Sheriff’s Office, Raymond Police Department, South Bend Police Department, and Washington State Patrol rushed to the scene.

An off-duty firefighter was one of the first on the scene and began treating the injured man.

According to his wife and witnesses, Prieto suffered multiple injuries, including possibly broken legs and a spinal cord injury. He was stable and able to talk to responders.

U.S. 101 was shut down at about 5:40 p.m. for 20 minutes while a helicopter from Airlift Northwest landed to transport Prieto to Tacoma General Hospital.

The Prietos are members of the Real American Riding Enthusiasts Riding Club (R.A.R.E. RC), and Charles Hood, the club’s president, rushed to the scene to support the Prietos. Family members picked up Kathy Prieto’s motorcycle so she could leave to head to the trauma center to be by her husband’s side.

R.A.R.E. RC notified the Chinook Observer on Monday, July 17, that Prieto succumbed to his injuries and passed away shortly after arriving at Tacoma General.

“We feel sorry for the family,” WSP Sgt. Bradford Moon said. The agency was saddened to hear the news that Prieto had perished. Responders on the scene were optimistic he would survive and recover.

Well-remembered

“Sal was an amazing man,” Dia Hood said. “[He] recently retired and was looking forward to traveling, spending more with grand-babies and riding. He was obviously loved by many, as you can see” from online tributes.

“Once we know more about what happened, our minds will ease up some more. It’s just so odd, he was an excellent rider,” she added.

Hood also added that an off-duty nurse was one of the first people at the scene and said herself, and the club, are thankful for her help and all the work of first responders.

“Kathy [Prieto], aka ‘Fancy’ in the club, got some of those extra moments with him,” Hood added. “The club wants to thank [the nurse], and all the responders who were there. They allowed our family to come together for Kathy, and didn’t raise a fuss about them being there for her.”

Second cycle crash

The crash was the second serious motorcycle crash in Pacific County last Sunday. Another crash happened at 12:39 p.m. on U.S. 101 at milepost 24 at the Wildlife Refuge.

Brian J. Page, 45, of Longview, was headed southbound on a 2014 Harley Davidson and lost control of his motorcycle in a corner and struck a guardrail. LifeFlight transported him from the scene to a trauma center. He is currently in satisfactory condition, according to Moon.