Man loses leg in crash near the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – A crash Friday afternoon in the 4700 block of Northwest Pioneer Place saw John Ayers being sent by ambulance to St. Anthony Hospital and then by Life Flight to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Ayers, who was operating a motorcycle, was struck head on by a motorist. The address is the road into the Umatilla County Jail area.
His daughter, Tessa Ayers, said her father’s left leg had to be amputated above the knee. He also suffered other injuries including multiple fractures of his right arm and a fractured hip.
“He is always so strong for all of us, and now he feels so weak,” Ayers said of her father’s injuries. “He helps everybody and he works so hard.”
The Pendleton Police Department responded to the crash at about 3:35 p.m. Friday. The officers, helped by Oregon State Police, provided first aid at the scene. OSP also provided an accident reconstruction report for PPD.
Tessa Ayers said she is working on establishing an account at a local bank to help raise funds to help the family meet the medical expenses as well as the cost to travel and stay close by in Portland. When she does, we will report that information.
