CALDWELL, ID — A memorial motorcycle ride west of Boise ended in a major crash Saturday when 25 motorcycles and seven other vehicles were involved on Interstate 84 near Caldwell. Idaho State Police said the wreck caused several vehicles to come to a stop in the westbound lanes.
About 15 people were taken to local hospitals by air and ground ambulance, according to the agency. The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club later said everyone involved survived, though several riders suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized.
The club said what was meant to honor a rider known as Big Keith turned into a scene many participants described as one of the worst motorcycle crashes they had ever seen.
Memorial procession for Big Keith was moving through a pack of more than 100 riders
The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club said more than 100 motorcycles were traveling together on I-84 near Caldwell when the crash happened inside the pack. The group had gathered for a memorial ride in honor of Big Keith, a club member remembered by the riders.
In a GoFundMe launched Monday evening, the Boise-based club said the ride was intended as a tribute before the collision interrupted it. The fundraiser described the crash as sudden and severe, and said the accident occurred as riders were moving west on the interstate.
Idaho State Police identified the location as Caldwell, west of Boise, but have not said what led to the wreck. Agency spokesperson Aaron Snell told the Idaho Statesman on Monday that investigators had not yet determined the cause.
State police say 25 motorcycles and seven vehicles were involved in the wreck
Idaho State Police said the crash involved 25 motorcycles along with seven additional vehicles. The agency said the collision left several vehicles resting in the westbound lanes of Interstate 84, creating a dangerous scene for motorists and emergency crews.
The scale of the wreck made it stand out even among serious traffic incidents. On the club’s fundraiser page, riders said it was among the worst motorcycle accidents many of them had witnessed. The description reflected both the number of bikes involved and the number of people hurt in the same chain of events.
Officials have not released a detailed account of how the crash unfolded. For now, the basic facts are the number of vehicles involved, the location on a busy interstate corridor, and the immediate need to move injured riders to hospitals.
Air and ground ambulances carried injured riders to local hospitals
Emergency crews used both air and ground ambulances to transport roughly 15 people to nearby hospitals after the collision. That response suggests first responders were dealing with a scene serious enough to require multiple levels of medical transport.
The motorcycle club said several of the injured riders were still hospitalized days after the crash. It also said some people would not be able to work while they recovered, adding that medical bills and other obligations do not pause when someone is hurt.
The club’s statement pointed to the range of costs families may now face, including rehabilitation, travel and daily living expenses. Those concerns became part of the reason for the fundraising effort that followed the wreck.
GoFundMe launched to cover medical bills, lost wages and recovery costs
The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club created an online fundraiser to support injured members and set a goal of raising $100,000. According to the GoFundMe page, donations will go toward medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, housing and utility payments, transportation and other necessary living costs.
The club said the money is meant to help riders who may be out of work while they recover. It also noted that the crash created extra burdens beyond hospital care, especially for people facing serious injuries and extended healing time.
By Monday evening, the fundraiser had become the main public step the club had taken in response to the crash. The page framed the effort as a way to keep injured riders from carrying the financial strain alone while they focus on treatment.
Club thanks first responders and those who stopped to help at the scene
In its fundraiser message, the motorcycle club thanked first responders, Life Flight crews, medical teams, law enforcement and towing and recovery crews. It also thanked people who stopped to help after the crash.
The club said brotherhood meant showing up when it matters most, and told injured riders and their families they were not facing the aftermath alone. That message came as members continued to deal with the medical and financial consequences of the wreck.
Idaho State Police have not released a final cause of the crash, and the investigation remains unresolved. For now, the focus is on the riders in hospitals, the families supporting them and the effort to raise money for what comes next.