Date: November 23, 2009
Location: Highway 38 near Drain, Oregon
Names: Darcie Kroh
According to The News-Review, divers found the body of Darcie Kroh, 32, of Coos Bay, Oregon, in a car that was upside down in Elk Creek, near the site of a crash on Highway 38, near Drain, Oregon. The horrifying discovery occurred around 1:30 PM on November 23, 2009. Local residents near the crash site reported a car submerged in the creek, which runs next to the highway, around 11:40 AM, and divers from Douglas County Search and Rescue searched for about two hours.
Kroh was found “basically where the driver would have been in the car,” Oregon State Police Lt. Doug Ladd told The News-Review. She was wearing a shoulder safety belt, but not a lap belt. Kroh was pronounced dead at the scene; the exact cause of death was still unknown as of November 23.
According to OSP’s initial investigation, speed was a factor in the crash, which apparently started while Kroh was driving a 1990 Toyota Corolla east on the freeway. State police believe her car veered to the right shoulder as she came around a corner. The car then traveled about 150 feet, hit a telephone pole, went down a 10- to 15-foot embankment, and tumbled into the creek.
The crash may have occurred hours earlier, about 2:30 AM, when witnesses heard a loud noise. That morning, they noticed part of the fence was down and saw the car in the water, and called police.
Along with OSP and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, responders included North Douglas Fire & EMS and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Kroh. You will be in our hearts this holiday season.
According to a 2009 ODOT fact sheet, speeding is the top contributor to traffic deaths and injuries in Oregon. Out of 416 total traffic deaths in 2008, over half (210) were speed-related, and speeding causes more traffic crashes than drunk driving. In addition, fatalities from speeding in rural areas are four times higher than deaths from speed-related crashes in the city.
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.
As of the date we posted this blog, Shulman DuBois LLC does not represent any of the parties. If you are mentioned in this article and believe you may need legal help, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Oregon law firms specializing in personal injury, including us, will provide free and confidential consultations, so do not hesitate to call and ask questions.
