Date: June 6, 2010
Location: Highway 223 near Dallas, Oregon
Names: Lisa Koloen, Brock Britt
Brock Britt, a 24-year-old Salem, Oregon man, is being held at Polk County Jail on multiple charges, including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, after a drunk-driving crash that killed a woman, according to an OSP press release.
The two-car, head-on crash occurred June 6, 2010, around 7:25 AM, on Highway 223 near Dallas, Oregon. Preliminary investigation by state police indicates that Brock Britt, 24, of Salem, was driving west on the highway when the car he was driving crossed the centerline and crashed into an eastbound car driven by Lisa Koloen, 54, of Dallas.
Koloen was pronounced dead at the scene. Britt sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Salem Memorial Hospital for treatment. When he was released two days later, he was arrested and jailed on an outstanding warrant. While Britt was in custody, OSP Trooper Jim Andrews contacted Polk County Corrections and advised him that he would also be arrested and held at the jail on the following charges related to the traffic crash:
- Manslaughter in the First Degree
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Reckless Driving
- DUII
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person
State troopers said that any questions on the charges or Britt’s pending court appearances should be directed to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
Our hearts go out to Koloen’s family as they mourn the tragic passing of their loved one. We hope that anyone who reads this will be moved by your loss, and make a promise to themselves never to get behind the wheel after drinking, and never to let their friends get behind the wheel after drinking – not even once.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are up to 32 deaths and 700 injuries every day in the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The CDC reports that in 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. This comes to almost one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths. And in 2007, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence – but this is less than 1% of persons who admit to driving impaired each year. Male drivers and young people are especially likely to be involved.
It is important to understand what to do after you’ve been involved in a crash where alcohol is a factor. We hope you will never need this information, of course, but you may want to check out our fact sheet or this informative video. We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and you can order our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney.
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.
