The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington

A 39-year-old Cougar man was flown to a hospital by Life Flight helicopter Thursday after he crashed a motorcycle along state Highway 503 in Cougar, police say.

Rory A. Witham suffered a broken leg and internal injuries in the 4:38 p.m. crash, according to a bulletin from the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers said Witham had been riding a 2002 Honda VTX180 north on a spur road that’s considered part of the highway at Milepost 36 in the town when the machine left the roadway to the right, became airborne momentarily and crashed into a telephone pole on the right shoulder. His injuries were believed life-threatening, a WSP dispatcher said later.

The bulletin said Witham was flown to Southwest Washington Medical Center. Late Thursday night, however, a hospital employee said Witham was not listed in the public directory.

As a result, his presence in the hospital could not be confirmed and his medical condition was unavailable.

One possible meaning of that is that Witham could have been unable to sign the medical-privacy papers required by federal law to allow listing in the hospital’s public directory. Also, he could have been transferred to another hospital.

Witham wore a helmet and the bike was totaled, the bulletin said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, the bulletin said, and any possible enforcement action was pending.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.

Print this article