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MAGNA -- Two crashes during a charity motorcycle ride, one involving a Roy police officer, sent two people to the hospital Saturday.

Sgt. Sheldon Riches with the Utah Highway Patrol says the officer was with other law enforcement leading the pack of riders participating in the 59th annual "Ride for a Cure" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The riders were on state Route 201 near 6980 West headed towards Wendover when they approached slowed traffic just after 2 p.m. Officer John Frawley swerved to the right shoulder to avoid the stopped vehicles in front of him, but his bike went down.

Witnesses say 56-year-old Danny Pierce was just behind the officer and witnessed the crash.

"Saw him go down and was watching him and witnesses say as he was watching him, other traffic started to stop," said Riches.

Pierce looked up to see the stopped traffic and slammed on his brakes, but he crashed as well.

Riches says Pierce was knocked unconscious for a few moments, but a trained paramedic who had been riding just behind him rushed to his assistance.

"There was a Davis County paramedic on the ride. He rendered aid immediately and we [flew] that individual to University Hospital," Riches said.

Pierce was wearing a half helmet and suffered head and abdominal injuries. He is currently in serious condition.

Frawley suffered some road rash to one of his arms was taken to Intermountain Medical Center by ambulance. He was wearing full protective gear, including a helmet.

Traffic backed up while the medical helicopter landed, resulting in three minor crashes involving cars. Everyone involved in those crashes was OK.

This is the second motorcycle charity ride in the past three weeks that has resulted in injuries. In mid-May, three bikers were hurt when they crashed during the "Shriners Kids Ride" in Parley's Canyon near Kimball Junction.

None of those riders was wearing a helmet.

E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com

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