WARM SPRINGS, Ore. — A 39-year-old off-duty firefighter was killed in a motorcycle accident involving a bear on Highway 26 near Warm Springs on Saturday night.
Authorities identified the victim as Rhett Larsen, a fire engineer for the Bend Fire Department. He died at the scene after hitting a bear that ran onto the highway, causing him to be thrown from his motorcycle into the path of an oncoming Ford SUV.
The driver of the SUV was airlifted to a hospital with undisclosed injuries. The Oregon State Police did not provide further updates on her condition.
The collision prompted the closure of Highway 26 for several hours as emergency services responded and the scene was investigated.
The Bend Fire Department praised Larsen on social media as a “respected leader,” noting his commitment to the community since being hired in 2002.
In a statement, the department described him as a “creative soul” with a “compassionate heart,” emphasizing his love for his work as a firefighter and paramedic.