A Minnesota motorcyclist was critically injured Friday evening when he crashed as he tried to avoid a car that had slowed to turn left on Highway 20W west of Bend, Oregon State Police said.

Shortly after 7 p.m., a 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by Arlen Smiens, 62, of Montevideo, Minnesota, was eastbound near milepost 5 and approaching the back of a vehicle attempting to turn left toward Cascade Estates Drive, troopers said.

The motorcyclist tried to stop, but lost control and laid the cycle on its side, troopers said. Smiens fell off the motorcycle and rolled several times.

Smiens was taken by Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District ambulance to another location where a Life Flight helicopter landed and took him to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend. Smiens, who had been wearing a helmet, was in critical condition Saturday morning at the Bend hospital, troopers said.

OSP troopers from the Bend Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District assisted at the scene. The crash and investigation closed Hwy 20W for about 30 minutes.