Motorcyclist killed in 4-vehicle crash near Jackson
Joseph Bale of Whittier, California killed, three others injured
by Wyoming Highway Patrol
July 28, 2014
Two motorcycles and two passenger vehicles were involved in a crash on July 27th at 12:51 pm. The crash occurred at mile post 146.10 on US 89 six miles south of Jackson, Wyoming.
52-year old Joseph Bale of Whittier, California was traveling north on a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Mr. Bale came up behind a 2007 Audi A4 that was stopped in traffic waiting for another vehicle to turn left. The Audi was driven by 31-year old David Johnson of Blackfoot, Idaho. Mr. Bale failed to notice that the Audi was stopped and swerved left to avoid the Audi. Mr. Bale's motorcycle made contact with the rear end of the Audi causing Mr. Bale to separate from the motorcycle. Mr. Bale landed in the roadway and sustained fatal injuries.
A second motorcycle driven by 36-year old Romulo Magahaes of Fortaleza, Brazil was northbound traveling behind Mr. Bale on another 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Mr. Magahaes also swerved left to avoid the stopped Audi and Mr. Bale's motorcycle. After swerving into the southbound lane, Mr. Magahaes collided head-on with a southbound 2013 Kia Optima driven by 66-year old Linda Farrag of Cohasset, Massachusetts. The collision with Mr. Magahaes' motorcycle and the Kia Optima also forced Mr. Magahaes' motorcycle into the stopped Audi.
Mr. Bale and Mr. Magahaes were both wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Mr. Bale was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. Mr. Magahaes, Linda Farrag, and Linda Farrag's passenger Jane Long were all transported to St John's Medical Center by ground ambulance. The crash caused the highway to be temporary closed. Driver inattention and following too close are currently being investigated as the contributing factors in the crash.
This crash marks the 79th fatality on Wyoming roads for 2014.
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