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Curtis James Kleine
A 22-year-old Sutherlin man died Tuesday evening after he crashed his motorcycle in Cottage Grove.
Curtis James Kleine was driving to his home in Sutherlin after spending the day with friends at Dorena Lake. Kleine was driving on Shoreview Road, near Garoutte Road in southeastern Lane County, when his motorcycle reportedly left the roadway and crashed down a steep embankment at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
Police discovered Kleine down the embankment with serious injuries. His motorcycle had broken into several pieces in the crash, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Kleine was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, where he later died from his injuries.
Kleine's sister-in-law, Michelle Kleine, said doctors told the family that Kleine was conscious and talking on his way to the hospital.
“They said he was talking in the ambulance on the way and he thought he was OK,” Michelle Kleine said this morning. “When they got to the hospital he was unconscious. He had stopped talking.”
The Lane County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office are investigating the possibility that alcohol may have been involved in crash. But Michelle Kleine said she can't image that Kleine would drive if he had been drinking. Michelle Kleine said she suspects Kleine, an experienced motorcycle rider, was caught off guard by a corner in the unfamiliar road.
“I don't think that he would be drinking and then drive his motorcycle,” she said. “I don't think he would do that. That's not the type of person he was.”
Michelle Kleine said Kleine was a kind, sweet, loving and caring man.
“He was a super, super nice guy,” she said. “He would do anything for anybody that he knew.”
Kleine leaves behind his parents, James and Karen Kleine, his brother Chris, his sister, Jennifer Marcus, and several nieces and nephews.
Kleine moved to Sutherlin from Grand Junction, Colo., with his family in 1995. He attended Sutherlin schools and recently had been working for a landscaping and rental company, Michelle Kleine said.
Kleine enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether skiing, skateboarding, camping, hiking, riding his motorcycle or just spending time with his friends, she said.
“He loved the outdoors. He just loved being outside, having a good time with his friends,” Michelle Kleine said. “He was a really good guy.”
Curtis James Kleine was driving to his home in Sutherlin after spending the day with friends at Dorena Lake. Kleine was driving on Shoreview Road, near Garoutte Road in southeastern Lane County, when his motorcycle reportedly left the roadway and crashed down a steep embankment at about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
Police discovered Kleine down the embankment with serious injuries. His motorcycle had broken into several pieces in the crash, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Kleine was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, where he later died from his injuries.
Kleine's sister-in-law, Michelle Kleine, said doctors told the family that Kleine was conscious and talking on his way to the hospital.
“They said he was talking in the ambulance on the way and he thought he was OK,” Michelle Kleine said this morning. “When they got to the hospital he was unconscious. He had stopped talking.”
The Lane County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office are investigating the possibility that alcohol may have been involved in crash. But Michelle Kleine said she can't image that Kleine would drive if he had been drinking. Michelle Kleine said she suspects Kleine, an experienced motorcycle rider, was caught off guard by a corner in the unfamiliar road.
“I don't think that he would be drinking and then drive his motorcycle,” she said. “I don't think he would do that. That's not the type of person he was.”
Michelle Kleine said Kleine was a kind, sweet, loving and caring man.
“He was a super, super nice guy,” she said. “He would do anything for anybody that he knew.”
Kleine leaves behind his parents, James and Karen Kleine, his brother Chris, his sister, Jennifer Marcus, and several nieces and nephews.
Kleine moved to Sutherlin from Grand Junction, Colo., with his family in 1995. He attended Sutherlin schools and recently had been working for a landscaping and rental company, Michelle Kleine said.
Kleine enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether skiing, skateboarding, camping, hiking, riding his motorcycle or just spending time with his friends, she said.
“He loved the outdoors. He just loved being outside, having a good time with his friends,” Michelle Kleine said. “He was a really good guy.”
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@nrtoday.com.
