Walton Crash Leaves Bainbridge Motorcyclist Dead, 2 Injured

A Bainbridge man is dead and another two people are injured following a crash involving two motorcycles and a car in Delaware County over the weekend.

Sheriff’s officials say 74-year-old Richard King was killed while traveling with a Bainbridge couple on motorcycles on State Highway 206 near Davis Road in Walton. 

Authorities say 64-year-old Bruce Gerken and his wife, 58-year-old Deborah Gerken were riding north at around 7 pm. August 15 when a deer ran from an embankment on the opposite side of the highway and into the road. The couple was ejected from their motorcycle when they hit the deer and the bike hit a south-bound vehicle driven by 56-year-old Debra Higley of Trout Creek. 

King lost control trying to avoid the Gerken’s motorcycle, the deer and the car and was killed when his motorcycle hit a guide wire and overturned. 

Bruce Gerken was flown to Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center while his wife was transported to the Johnson City hospital by ambulance.  Neither Higley nor her passenger in the car, 62-year-old Luther Higley was hurt. 

Delaware County Sheriff’s officials are still investigating the crash.