A motorcyclist from Bend died Saturday evening after hitting a bear crossing Highway 26 on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Rhett Larsen, 39, a firefighter for the Bend Fire Department, was riding east near milepost 80 when a large bear ran into his path, according to an Oregon State Police press release. Larsen hit the bear and was thrown into the path of a westbound Ford SUV pulling a utility trailer. The SUV, driven by 57-year-old Margaret Sweo of Oregon City, struck Larsen, left the road and rolled onto its side. Larsen and the bear were killed, and Sweo was airlifted to a hospital.

Highway 26 was closed for nearly six hours following the accident.

Larsen had been with the Bend Fire Department since 2002.