Alcohol Probable Factor in Kennewick Motorcycle Crash

Just after midnight Thursday morning, police say a possibly intoxicated motorist hit the curb and went airborne.

According to Sgt. Ken Lattin, about 20 minutes after midnight, 67-year-old Richard Whitney of Richland was headed North on Columbia Center Blvd. away from the light at Deschutes.

As he approached the Applebees restaurant,  he drifted into the center turn lane.   The turn lanes on CC Blvd. are marked off with angled concrete curbing, to keep motorists from turning the "wrong" way into oncoming traffic.

Police said Mr. Whitney's motorcycle hit that curbing, and became airborne as he was traveling at high rate of speed.

He apparently stayed on the the cycle during the crash, it slid on it's side afterward.  He was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center and was described as being in serious condition.

Lattin says alcohol or drugs are suspected as a factor in the accident.