Crash

Date: December 4, 2009
Location: Highway 126W, near Florence, Oregon
Names: Larry Gene Larson, Deborah A. Larson, Anna V. Larson, Richard Alfred Lopez

A Springfield man was held on multiple charges December 4, 2009, following a two-car crash on Highway 126W east of Florence, Oregon, that seriously injured a Florence couple.

According to Salem-News.com, Larry Gene Larson, 63, and his wife, Deborah A. Larson, 63, were injured when their car was struck by a 1994 Ford Explorer driven by Richard Alfred Lopez, 47, of Springfield. The Larsons’ daughter, Anna V. Larson, 21, of Florence, was also in the car, but was not injured.

The crash happened around 2:30 AM. Preliminary investigation by Oregon State Police indicates that Lopez was eastbound on the highway, when his car crossed the center line and struck the car Larson was driving, a 2006 Subaru Forrester.

Suislaw Valley Fire & Rescue extricated the couple from their car. They were transported to Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence with serious injuries. Later, Larry Larson was transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend for additional treatment.

Lopez, who received minor injuries in the crash, was arrested for DUII, reckless driving, two counts of assault in the second degree, and recklessly endangering another person.

Highway 126W was closed about two hours at the crash scene as Oregon State Police investigated, assisted by Oregon Department of Transportation.

We send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Larson family after this unnecessary, pointless accident. We hope that all the prayers going out to them, along with the support of family and community, will help carry them through this difficult time.

We don’t need to remind our readers that driving is a serious responsibility. People who violate the traffic laws, drive while drunk, or operate their vehicles carelessly do not just put themselves at risk, they endanger everyone on the road. That includes bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, highway workers, other drivers, and their own passengers.

In the wake of a tragedy like this, each person must deal with it in whatever way works best for them. We would never try to talk someone into taking legal action. It is an individual decision that can only be made by the family. When a drunk driver causes an injury accident in Oregon, there is a possibility of suing the person or bar that served the alcohol. This must be done correctly, and quickly. There are strict time limits for filing a lawsuit in Oregon, and where alcohol is involved, the limits get even stricter. A Dram Shop Notice must be sent to the server within 180 days of the incident, pursuant to ORS 471.565.

We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney.

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: November 23, 2009
Location: Highway 97, Bend, Oregon
Names: Jeanne Coward, Dodd Hook, Lois Gruver

Jeanne Coward, 69, of Bend, Oregon, was killed November 23, 2009, around 2 PM, on Highway 97 near the Deschutes Market Junction when her car was struck by an SUV driven by Dodd Hook, 47, also of Bend. The crash also involved a third vehicle, an SUV driven by Lois Gruver of Bend.

According to KOHD.com, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police were called to the crash involving the Ford Explorer, driven by Hook, which had been reported for driving erratically, weaving, and possibly striking the median barrier. The crash occurred minutes after 911 received the erratic driving call.

Hook lost control of his vehicle and sideswiped Gruver’s car in the oncoming southbound lanes. Hook’s car then overturned and rolled into Coward’s car. Coward was pronounced dead at the scene. Hook suffered non-life-threatening injuries; he was taken to St. Charles Medical Center, where he was treated and released from the emergency room. Gruver was not injured.

There was no evidence of speeding or intoxicants as factors, and authorities were baffled as to what might have caused the crash; however, KTVZ.com reports that Hook’s erratic driving may have resulted from a medical condition.

A friend of Hook’s told KTVZ that Hook was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes over 20 years ago. The condition was not detected until he was in his 20s and was drafted for professional baseball. According to Hook’s friend, who asked not to be named, Hook “most likely” passed out from low blood sugar.

The friend said Hook was “extremely responsible” with managing his diabetes. He even had two wireless devices, a “pod” that infused him with insulin when needed, and a second device to monitor blood sugar.

“We’re really upset about what happened to this lady,” the friend told KTVZ. “It was a freak thing. We don’t know exactly what happened. If his blood sugar goes very low, very fast,” trouble can arise.

As of November 24, sheriff’s deputies were continuing to investigate, and asked any witnesses, or anyone with information, to contact them at 541-388-6655.

We send our condolences to Coward’s family after this sudden, shocking crash. We hope that they will find support in the community, and comfort in the prayers of others.

When a driver passes out due to a medical condition, it can be difficult to figure out who’s fault it is. You may be surprised to read this from a personal injury attorney, but it may be nobody’s fault. A freak accident is what we call an “act of God,” and nobody gets blamed.

But, here are some other possibilities:
-The driver may have been on medication that specifically stated he shouldn’t drive. That would make it the driver’s fault.
-The driver may have been on medication that did not state he shouldn’t drive, but should have! That would make it the fault of whoever produced, tested, and labeled the medication.
-The driver may have been on medication that should state that he shouldn’t drive, but the pharmacist mislabeled it. Pharmacy’s fault.
-The driver’s doctor may have misdiagnosed a condition, and therefore failed to tell the driver that he shouldn’t be driving.

There’s no way to know what actually happened to cause this tragedy without further investigation. This is certainly a situation that can get complicated fast. A victim doesn’t have to sue, and many choose not to, but those involved should certainly know what their legal and insurance options are. A competent personal injury attorney can help guide you through the process.

Important questions to consider when hiring a lawyer:
Does the lawyer understand how to help me pay my medical bills after an accident?
What about testimonials?
What kind of time limits are involved?
What if I have a smaller case?
Are there any hard rules to follow when looking for a great personal injury lawyer?

Date: November 26, 2009
Location: I-5 north of Salem, Oregon
Names: Eric Ryan Witt

A Rainier, Oregon, man was arrested on multiple charges, including driving while suspended, after his car crashed into three other vehicles on I-5 north of Salem, November 26, 2009, around 11:50 AM. Eric Ryan Witt, 39, attempted to elude Oregon State Police after the crash, reaching speeds of up to 107 mph before he was finally stopped.

Read the rest »

Date: October 14, 2009
Location: SE 257th Avenue & Stark Street, Gresham, Oregon
Names: Danial Eugene Rupp

(Photo: KATU.com)

The last night of Danial Eugene Rupp’s short life consisted of disaster piling onto disaster. The horrifying story started in the early morning hours of October 14, 2009, when Rupp was attacked and robbed as he left the 505 Club in Gresham, Oregon. It ended around 3:30 AM when he was killed in a fiery rollover crash.

According to KOINLocal6.com, Rupp, 25, of Troutdale, had called the police around 2:45 AM to report that his wallet had been taken. Officers believed he was okay to drive, but paramedics offered him a ride to the hospital. Unfortunately, Rupp refused, saying he would have someone drive him home.

Sadly, Rupp ended up driving home on his own. As he headed east on SE Stark, near 257th Avenue, his car left the road, struck a tree, and rolled at least once, landing on its roof. A passing driver noticed flames coming from the car and called 911. Emergency crews found Rupp dead at the scene.

Rupp’s sister, April, told KPTV.com that her brother asked police for a ride, and she wishes they had simply taken him home. “They told him not to drive, that’s understandable, but the fact is he asked them for a ride home. It was 3 something in the morning. He just had [been attacked] where an ambulance had to be called. He said ‘I’m on my way,’ and I said, ‘No, just wait, Danny,’ and he decided to drive anyway.”

The Oregonian reports that speed and wet road conditions were probably factors in the accident, according to investigators. As of October 16, it had not been determined whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

Many questions still surround this accident. What could have caused it? Poor road conditions may have caused this single-car crash. Such a lawsuit would allow the injured person to receive compensation 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 do happen, and when someone is seriously injured, a competent Oregon personal injury attorney can investigate and find out what truly happened. Usually at no cost.  For more information on what to do in the case of an Oregon accident, contact our office or read 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.
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Date: September 30, 2009
Location: U.S. Highway 20 near Buchanan, Oregon
Names: Charles Simmons, Sterling Wilson, Pamela Wilson

Charles Simmons, 32, an attorney from Nyssa, Oregon, was killed around 7:20 AM, September 30, 2009, in a head-on collision while on his way to Harney County Circuit Court in Burns for a hearing.

The Argus Observer reports that Simmons was westbound on U.S. Highway 20 near Buchanan, east of Burns, when his car crossed the center line and hit a truck going in the opposite direction. The driver of the truck, Sterling Wilson, 51, and his wife, Pamela Wilson, 51, both of Burns, received minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Harney District Hospital.
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Date: October 2, 2009
Location: Highway 99E, Brooks, Oregon
Names: Abimeal Jaime, Dvane H. Wood

According to The Oregonian, Abimeal Jaime, 27, of Keizer, Oregon, was seriously injured in a collision with a truck driven by Dvane H. Wood, 45, of Damascus, Oregon. The accident occurred October 2, 2009, around 3:30 AM.

Jaime was traveling north on Highway 99E, in Brooks, Oregon, when his 1999 Honda Civic veered into southbound traffic and crashed into a Freightliner truck driven by Wood. An ambulance transported Jaime to Salem Hospital. Wood, who was wearing a seat belt, was not hurt in the wreck; it was not known whether Jaime was using passenger restraints.

The Oregon State Police are investigating the possibility that alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

Responding to the crash were state police officials, the Marion County Fire District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. The accident closed down the highway for about three hours.

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Jaime and Wood during this difficult time. This was a tragedy that never should have happened.

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.
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.