2009 December Archive

Date: December 31, 2009
Location: SE Wilson Avenue & Fifth Street, Bend, Oregon
Names: Jayson Barker, Kelsey Colleen Magee

After a hit-and-run driver seriously injured a Bend, Oregon, pedestrian on New Year’s Eve, the driver came forward and turned herself in.

The victim, Jayson Barker, 20, suffered a brain injury in the crash, and doctors said his condition was critical.

Late on the night of December 31, 2009, a motorist spotted Barker lying in the middle of the road near SE Wilson Avenue and Fifth Street in Bend, and called Deschutes County 911. Barker, who was unconscious, was transported to St. Charles Medical Center – Bend. As of January 3, he was in the ICU, recovering from emergency brain surgery.

Hospital representatives told KTVZ.com that his condition was “very critical,” and while his vital signs were stable, “doctors do not know the extent of brain damage right now.”

After the accident, police determined that Barker was hit by a metallic-blue 2003 to 2005 Toyota 4Runner SUV. Around 9:40 PM, January 1, Kelsey Colleen Magee, 31, of Bend, contacted police about the crash. She was driving a blue 2003 Toyota 4Runner that night.

Police verified that Magee’s car was involved in the crash. She was arrested for failure to perform the duties of a driver to an injured person, and held at Deschutes County Jail. Around 2:30 AM January 2, she was released on bail. She is to appear in court January 19.

The investigation is continuing, but police said speed and alcohol do not appear to have contributed.

Hit-and-run is a serious crime, and conviction will result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked. In any accident, you have the following obligations:

·    Stop at once. If anyone is killed or unconscious, you must stay at the scene until a police officer arrives.
·    Render aid. Do not move an injured person carelessly, but give reasonable aid.
·    Exchange information with the other driver. Give them your name, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. DMV offers a printable checklist you can download and keep in your car.
·    Report the accident to DMV.

We implore drivers in any accident situation to put the safety and welfare of others above their own interests, and always, always remain at the scene and make sure no one is hurt. We send our thoughts and prayers to Barker for a full recovery, and we hope Barker’s family finds support and strength to carry them through.

The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. And the Barker family may be well advised to contact a reputable personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At Shulman DuBois, we believe that what happened in this crash is simply unacceptable; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that both victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.

Date: December 28, 2009
Location: U.S. Highway 30, Astoria, Oregon
Names: Wesley James Garrett, Frank F. Boncz, Stanley C. Baller, Jr., Jamie Bryan Pellham

Icy roads may have contributed to a crash December 28, 2009, on U.S. Highway 30 near Svensen Junction, in Astoria, Oregon, in which two people were injured.

According to The Daily Astorian, the crash occurred around 6 AM when Stanley C. Baller, Jr., 38, of Clatskanie, attempted to pass a bus and lost control of his truck. The truck spun around, and its passenger side hit several large trees.

Two passengers seated on the right side of the truck, Wesley James Garrett, 19, of Rainier, and Frank F. Boncz, 51, of Clatskanie, suffered broken bones and other injuries. They were transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, then airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for further treatment.

The driver, Baller, and a third passenger, Jamie Bryan Pellham, 33, of Rainier, were unhurt.

Oregon State Police, Knappa Fire District, and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

We send our personal wishes and thoughts to Garrett and Boncz. We hope your recovery is a quick one.

With the holidays just behind us, there could be snow ahead. It is always important to watch out for ice on the road. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” warns that better cars, better roads, and better tires don’t take the place of careful driving.

Among ODOT’s tips:

•    In snow or fog, drive with your low beams on. And keep headlights clean – dirty headlights can cut visibility in half.
•    Keep a good grip on the steering wheel. Do not make sudden turns; if you skid, correct your car using a light touch.
•    Increase following distance, then increase it some more. ODOT recommends at least three times the normal following distance in snow or ice.
•    Plan ahead for intersections.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.
•    If you hit a patch of ice, ease up on the accelerator and let your car “roll” through.
•    Remember that posted speed limits are meant for dry conditions, not rain, snow, sleet, or ice. Slow down during winter weather.

What if, despite your careful driving, you – or someone you love – is injured in a car crash? You probably have lots of questions, and we can help you answer many questions at no charge. Or order our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

Visit our car accident resource library.
Get a free 70+ page book Seven Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.
Contact Shulman DuBois LLC about a free consultation.
Visit us on YouTube.

Date: December 28, 2009
Location: SE 76th & Stark St., Portland, Oregon
Names: Dobrivoje Ivkovic

A bus driver for senior citizens attending Providence ElderPlace in Portland, Oregon, was arrested December 28, 2009, for drunk driving, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident after he crashed his empty bus at SE 76th and Stark Street, around 3:30 PM. Police caught up with Dobrivoje Ivkovic, 41, at Providence Portland Medical Center on NE 48th and Glisan.

KOINLocal6.com said police believe the bus was unoccupied at the time of the crash. There were no injuries.

Ivkovic was taken to Multnomah County Jail.

Gary Walker, director of public affairs for Providence Health & Services, told The Oregonian that Ivkovic’s bus was used to transport older adults to and from Providence ElderPlace, a health care and social services program with a location near the hospital, at 4540 NE Glisan.

Walker would not comment on the allegations against Ivkovic, saying it was a personal matter.

As Portland hit and run lawyers, we are grateful that no one was injured in this crash, but we can’t help but be shocked. This driver was entrusted with the safety of senior citizens. Hit-and-run is a serious crime, and so is drunk driving, but there are legal options with a Portland hit and run lawyer.

The hit-and-run driver must be held responsible for his actions. And if anyone is injured in a hit and run crash, civil penalties may apply as well. At Shulman DuBois, our personal injury attorneys believe that hit-and-run, and drunk driving, are simply unacceptable. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run or drunk driving crash, contact our hit and run lawyers soon.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is a personal injury law firm  located in SE Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, Milwaukie, and Albany.

Date: December 26, 2009
Location: Highway 42, east of Remote, Oregon
Names: Sigrid Wilma Wheeler, Sarah Helen Beck, Amber Nicole Olson, Ronald Eugene Beck, Robert D. Beck, Brett Dean Bishop

According to the Oregon State Police Report, a four-car crash on Highway 42 in Coos County, Oregon, east of the town of Remote, killed a Coos Bay woman the morning of December 26, 2009. Four people were injured, and Sigrid Wilma Wheeler, 74, was killed.

The crash happened on an icy stretch of road, when Brett Dean Bishop, 25, of Warrenton, lost control of his 2003 Dodge truck and slid into the eastbound lane. The truck sideswiped a car, then hit a PT Cruiser driven by Ronald Eugene Beck, 58, of Prosser. The collision pushed the PT Cruiser into the van behind it.
Read the rest »

Date: December 24, 2009
Location: Highway 20, between Corvallis and Albany, Oregon
Names: Sudhakar Thakillapati, Trashana Hanumantha Rao, Silvamari Thakillapati, Sushma Thakillapati, Bindu Lumen, Stevie Simpson, Andrea L. Logan, Andrew Scott Tokstad

Oregon State Police are looking for witnesses to a three-car highway crash caused by a wrong-way driver, in which nine people were injured. The accident happened December 24, 2009, around 6:30 PM, on Highway 20 between Corvallis and Albany, Oregon.

With three vehicles involved, and multiple injuries of various severity, media reports had conflicting details, but the information in this article was reported by both The Oregonian and Salem-News.com.
Read the rest »

Date: December 24, 2009
Location: Highway 22 west of Santiam Pass, Oregon
Names: Robert W. Fickel, Michael C. Provost, Ann Guyson

A Salem man was killed and a Sunriver woman was injured in a head-on car-truck crash December 24, 2009, around 10:30 AM, on Highway 22 west of Santiam Pass, in Oregon.

Robert W. Fickel, 52, of Salem, was driving east on the highway when he lost control of his car and crossed the center line. Oregon State Police Sgt. Mark Davis said the road had icy spots at the time of the crash, although it had been sanded earlier. The temperature was hovering just below freezing. Fickel’s car collided with a 2006 Ford pickup truck driven by Michael C. Provost, 64, of Sunriver.

Fickel was pronounced dead at the scene. Provost was not injured, but his passenger, Ann Guyson, 55, also of Sunriver, suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend.

We send our condolences to Fickel’s family. We know how difficult it is to lose a loved one, and we add our prayers to yours. We also send wishes to Guyson, and hope her injuries will heal quickly and thoroughly.

Oregon State Police released preliminary crash statistics for the 2009 Christmas holiday period, which runs from 6 PM, December 23, to 11:59 PM, December 27, a total of 102 hours.

According to OSP, five people were killed in five separate crashes in Oregon. Troopers also reported an increase in DUII arrests as part of the nationwide crackdown, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” The special enforcement period started December 16 and runs through New Year’s weekend.

During last year’s Christmas holiday period, six people were killed in six separate traffic crashes, up from the 10-year average of four.

OSP troopers arrested 60 DUII drivers, up from 50 reported DUII arrests during the 2008 Christmas holidays. OSP Command Centers reporting more than three arrests were:

·    Salem Area Command – 8 DUII arrests
·    Portland Area Command – 7 DUII arrests
·    Grants Pass Work Site – 6 DUII arrests
·    Coos Bay Area Command – 6 DUII arrests
·    Klamath Falls Area Command – 4 DUII arrests
·    Central Point Area Command – 3 DUII arrests

In addition, troopers responded to more than 150 traffic crashes and assisted nearly 300 disabled motorists.

OSP, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, and Oregon Department of Transportation provided the following trips for travelers:

·    Remember cooler temperatures are leading to icy roadway conditions. Expect the unexpected and be alert for quick changes in road conditions, especially watching for ice on bridges and in shaded areas.

·    Don’t drink and drive and don’t ride with anyone who has been drinking.

·    Never use illegal drugs.

·    Be a designated driver.

·    If someone who’s been drinking insists on driving, take his or her keys.

·    If hosting a gathering, provide non-alcoholic beverages.

·    Use public transit or local drive-home services provided by taxis and other companies.

·    Always use safety restraints.

·    Avoid travel after midnight, especially on weekends or holidays.

·    Drive alert and defensively at all times.

·    Report any suspected impaired driving by calling 1-800-24DRUNK (800-243-7865) or 911.

Shulman DuBois LLC represents victims with injuries resulting from accidents.  Our clients deserve representation with our experience, sensitivity and tenacity.  Should an unfortunate episode find you or someone you know in need of representation as a result of an accident related injury, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by reading our Frequently Asked Questions, exploring our Library, or ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.