Two Men Die in Head-on Crash on Hwy 26 in Oregon Coast Range
Salem-News.com
Mar-11-2007 08:54
One eastbound vehicle swerved to the shoulder to avoid the pickup.
(TIMBER JUNCTION) – Two men died and a woman was seriously injured Saturday afternoon in a head-on crash on Highway 26 about five miles west of Timber Junction.
The crash occurred as an Oregon State Police trooper was attempting to stop one of the vehicles before it crossed the centerline and crashed head-on with the other vehicle.
OSP says at approximately 5:11 PM, a citizen reported a driving complaint regarding a maroon Dodge pickup westbound on Highway 26 near Manning.
A second driving complaint was received two minutes later regarding the same vehicle.
Both involved reports of erratic driving that included failure to maintain a single lane of travel.
At approximately 5:30 PM, OSP Senior Trooper Tim Holbrook was patrolling eastbound near milepost 38 in an attempt to locate the pickup when the trooper spotted it and obtained a radar speed reading of 75 mph in a 55 mph area.
The trooper turned around, and with the patrol car’s overhead lights activated, caught up with the 2004 Dodge pickup near milepost 34.
The pickup reportedly had slowed down by this time.
After following behind the pickup with the patrol car overhead lights activated for about 1/4 mile, the pickup veered across the centerline in the path of eastbound traffic.
One eastbound vehicle swerved to the shoulder to avoid the pickup.
A second eastbound vehicle was sideswiped trying to avoid the pickup. A third eastbound passenger car, a 2000 Mazda 626, crashed head-on with the westbound pickup on a straight section of the two lane highway.
The drivers of the Dodge pickup and Mazda were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Dodge pickup is identified as 63-year-old Darrol Jackson, from Forest Grove.
He was not using safety restraints.
The driver of the Mazda was identified as 53-year-old Brian Workman, from southwest Portland.
46-year-old Susan Workman, was seriously injured and transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
Both were using safety restraints.
OSP troopers from Banks and Astoria offices are continuing the investigation with assistance of an OSP crash reconstructionist.
Investigating troopers will be attempting to determine if alcohol was a contributing factor on the part of the Dodge pickup’s driver.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT, Elsie Fire Department and Medix ambulance assisted at the scene.
The highway was closed about two hours before one lane was reopened.