Victim was business owner, triathlete

By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times reporter

PHILOMATH — A bicyclist was struck and killed by a log truck at about 7:45 a.m. today on Chapel Drive, just east of the 13th Street intersection.

Edward Paul Bomber, 48, of Corvallis, died at the scene.

Lt. Greg Ridler of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Bomber apparently slid underneath the truck just east of the intersection.

“A lot of things contributed to this, and it doesn’t appear to be any one cause,” Ridler said. Wet roads may have contributed to the crash. Poor visibility, drugs or alcohol aren’t suspected to be factors.

“It looks like it was just a tragic accident,” said Benton County Sheriff Diana Simpson. Philomath Fire & Rescue and Philomath Police Department also responded to the scene.

Although the investigation isn’t done, preliminary reports indicate that Bomber and the driver of the log truck, Robert A. Phinney, age 54, of Siletz, may have simply misjudged the distance between them as both turned onto Chapel Drive.

Simpson said Phinney was driving his log truck south on 13th Street and turning left onto Chapel Drive, while Bomber was heading north and turning east onto Chapel as well.

Bomber was wearing a helmet, and his bike was equipped with reflectors.

Simpson said criminal charges were unlikely, although the case will be reviewed by the Benton County District Attorney’s Office, which is usual in fatal traffic collisions.

Bomber, an employee of Hewlett-Packard Co., was known to his many friends as “Ed.” He also was an active triathlete. In April this year, Bomber and a friend opened up Northwest MultiSports, a business catering to the running, biking and swimming crowd.

“He was a super nice guy,” said Brian Persons, an employee at Northwest MultiSports. Persons said Bomber wanted to be involved with the triathlete community, as well as a business he could continue after he retired from HP.

Residents and workers near the intersection of 13th Street and Chapel Drive said it is extremely dangerous.

Stephanie Scott of Corvallis drove past the crash scene on her way to her job at nearby Gathering Together Farm.

“It’s such a horrible thing. The farm was really affected by it this morning,” she said. “I saw it, and I wish I hadn’t. It was pretty scary.”

Vehicles speed through the rural area just south of Philomath, even though about five farm houses are located there.

“The log trucks are crazy. I’ve had so many close calls,” said Paula House, a cook and greenhouse worker for Gathering Together Farm. “I just wish there was a little more space on the road.”

Alexis Schiedler, who lives near the intersection, agreed that vehicles drive too fast. “There’s always one motorcycle — you can hardly see him,” she said. “My niece almost got hit here once trying to get on the school bus because somebody was flying.”



Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.