Kitsap (Wash.) Sun

SILVERDALE, Wash. — A Tacoma man was charged Monday in Kitsap County District Court with vehicular assault after a sheet of plywood flew off the pickup he was driving and struck a motorcyclist.

At about 4:30 p.m. PT Friday, Gerald Grever was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger south on Highway 3 just south of Newberry Hill Road. He was in the left of two lanes. Behind him was Charles Wade of Kelso on a 2005 Harley Davidson, according to court records.

A full sheet of plywood was under a ladder on top of the truck's canopy. The ladder was secured by one bungee cord. The plywood slid off the truck and struck Wade in the head. He lost control of the bike, veered into the right lane, flew off the seat and landed on the right shoulder. The Harley slid into the ditch.

Wade, 50, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma, which could provide no information Monday about his condition. The court records state that he suffered head trauma though he'd been wearing a helmet and couldn't remember what had happened. He didn't have any broken bones.

Grever, 31, said he saw the motorcyclist lose control. He pulled to the shoulder after noticing the ladder dangling. The ladder and plywood were on the work truck when he arrived in the morning. He didn't disturb them during the day, but he didn't secure them. He told police he knew there was just one bungee cord holding the ladder but couldn't find anything else to tie the load down.

A drug recognition expert with the State Patrol examined Grever and placed him in custody for driving under the influence. Documents don't explain why. He also had a suspended driver's license, which he said he was unaware of.

He is in the Kitsap County Jail with a bail of $10,000.

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