2 killed after being thrown from motorcycle in Midland have been identified

Authorities have identified two men who died Thursday after being thrown from a motorcycle while fleeing from deputies in Midland.

Investigators have not yet been able to determine whether David Schmith, 47, or Montie Tipton, 48, was the driver.

A deputy tried to pull over the speeding motorcycle as it traveled south on Golden Given Road near 72nd Street East about 3 p.m.

The motorcycle sped away, and the deputy opted not to pursue it, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

The motorcycle ran through a stop sign at 85th Street East and struck two vehicles.

Both men were thrown from the bike and pronounced dead at the scene.

Schmith and Tipton were both wearing helmets but they came off on impact, Troyer said.

The people inside the cars that the motorcycle hit were not badly injured.

It’s unclear why the motorcycle refused to pull over for the deputy, or to whom the motorcycle belonged.

It had been altered and spray-painted, Troyer said.

This story was originally published July 20, 2018 at 8:48 AM.