North Whidbey motorcycle accident injures Renton man

A Renton man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Saturday on East Silver Lake Road on North Whidbey.

Joel Crouch, 27, suffered head injuries and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center and Hospital in Seattle.

A hospital official confirmed Tuesday that he was out of intensive care and in satisfactory condition.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the accident happened shortly after 10 a.m. Crouch was on a ride with family members from Oak Harbor and was traveling on North Strawberry Point Road when the trouble occurred.

The small group was passing the intersection at North Green Road and was continuing onto East Silver Lake Road when, for an unknown reason, Crouch veered onto the right shoulder and lost control of his 2007 Kawasaki 250.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Dave Martin said it appears the accident was the result of a momentary lapse of attention, though he is still trying to piece together exactly what happened.

“The unfortunate thing is that nobody saw it,” Martin said.

Crouch left the roadway on the right and landed close to his motorcycle. Martin said his helmet showed signs of damage and was brought to the hospital as an aid to doctors.

According to Martin, the speed limit on that section of Silver Lake Road is 50 mph.

Crouch is not believed to have been speeding, and neither alcohol nor drugs were involved.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Justin Burnett at jburnett@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5054.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.