Spanaway man killed by a logging truck in a motorcycle crash

A 77-year-old Spanaway man died after sliding his motorcycle in front of a logging truck on State Route 7 late Tuesday night. 

Robert F. Gruber was driving his black 2014 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on the road near the 4800 block of State Route 7 when his bike slid into the northbound lane. 

Russel Gaut, a 58-year-old Mineral resident, was driving a tan 2004 Kenworth tractor with a log trailer in the northbound lane when he collided with Gruber. Gruber was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. 

Washington State Patrol responded to the scene and closed the road for four hours. Gruber was announced dead and the scene. WSP contacted Gruber's family. 

The motorcycle was impounded by a local Eatonville towing company.