Date: May 30, 2010
Location: Highway 211 near Colton, Oregon
Names: Cody Allen Loop, Timothy L. Buyes
On May 30, 2010, around 9:50 AM, state police and emergency personnel responded to reports of a vehicle overturned in a creek by Highway 211 near Colton, Oregon.
According to an OSP press release, troopers could not see the vehicle from the highway because of trees blocking their line of sight, but as they approached, they spotted a Ford Ranger pickup overturned in a creek with the driver pinned inside and a passenger lying about 100 feet away.
Colton Fire Department personnel worked to extricate the driver, Cody Allen Loop, 18, of Canby, but he died before they could get him out.
The passenger, Timothy L. Buyes, 18, of Molalla, was seriously injured. He was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital for treatment.
Police have received reports that Loop and Buyes were in the Estacada area late the night before the crash. Police are continuing to investigate, and have asked anyone with information to call OSP Northern Command Center dispatch at 800-452-7888.
It is unknown whether Loop or Buyes were wearing safety restraints. The crash closed the highway for about three hours.
Our hearts go out to Loop’s family. Please know that we are thinking of you. We also send our wishes to Buyes as he recovers, and hope that he is out of the hospital soon.
Did you know that Oregon single-car accidents are not always the driver’s fault? While an accident like this one can seem black and white, and people often jump to conclusions, a closer investigation will sometimes turn up a surprise. Many will assume that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, or stopped paying attention for some other reason. And perhaps that is exactly what happened. But there are many other possibilities as well.
Poor road conditions in Oregon may have caused this wreck – for all we know, there may have been a large pothole that has already caused three accidents, or maybe there’s a blind curve with a missing warning sign. If that is the case, there may be a lawsuit available against the city/county/state. Such a lawsuit would allow the injured person to receive compensation in Oregon and hopefully prevent future accidents on that stretch of road. Maybe the car was recently brought in for a tune-up, and the mechanic replaced the steering mechanism carelessly, and the car lost steering.
These things happen, and when someone dies or is seriously injured, a competent Oregon personal injury attorney can investigate and find out what happened – usually at no cost. If you have questions after an Oregon accident, we can help. Contact our office or read our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.
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.
