Portland Personal Injury Attorneys

DUII Rollover Crash Injures Two Passengers

Date: October 15, 2009
Location: 10138 Donald Road NE, Donald, Oregon
Names: Cassandra Westgate, James Cothern, Shawn Stearns

According to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office press release, an Aurora man was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and two counts of assault October 15, 2009, after an early-morning car crash injured his two passengers.

At 5:53 AM, Marion County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a crash at 10138 Donald Road NE in Donald, Oregon. They found an overturned Ford Explorer, and determined that the driver, Shawn Stearns, 20, of Aurora, was intoxicated.

Stearns was not hurt, but one of his passengers, Cassandra Westgate, 19, of Woodburn, was seriously injured in the crash, and was transported by Life Flight to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The other passenger, James Cothern, 20, also of Woodburn, was taken to Salem Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Stearns, who was not injured, was taken to Marion County Jail. By October 16, Westgate had improved and was in good condition at the hospital.

We are saddened anytime we hear of an impaired driver causing a crash, but in this case we were relieved and grateful to learn that Westgate was recovering, and that there were no other serious injuries. We send our warmest wishes to Westgate and Cothern, and wish them all the best in the future.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are up to 36 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 we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes complicated, and you should talk with an experienced Oregon injury attorney. Please contact us if we can help.

Protecting Your Kids from the #1 Risk This Halloween | Oregon Personal Injury Attorneys

Date: October 27, 2009

Halloween is a time for scary stories, and often it’s the grownups getting spooked. Parents hear warnings about stranger danger, razor blades, and LSD in candy bags. There’s even a scientific study on eye injuries from throwing raw eggs. Some folks worry about black cats. But the real danger on Halloween night is one so ordinary it could go unnoticed: motor vehicle traffic.

And in 2009, the danger from car-pedestrian accidents could be higher than ever, because the holiday falls on a Saturday. According to the University of Michigan News Service, children under 15 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a car crash on Halloween than on any other evening of the year, with most deaths occurring between 4 PM and 8 PM – prime trick-or-treating time.

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Here's How to Keep Your Kids Safe On Halloween | Oregon Accident Lawyers

Date: October 27, 2009

What’s the biggest danger to children on Halloween? Not ghouls or goblins, but traffic accidents. Read our new article for the surprising statistics, plus tips on keeping your kids safe.

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Police Seek Driver Who Crashed Stolen Truck | Oregon Accident Lawyers

Date: October 15, 2009
Location: Oregon Highway 370 (O’Neil Highway), Prineville, Oregon
Names: [Unknown]

(Photo: KOHD.com)

Oregon State Police are asking the public’s help in finding the person who stole a pickup truck, crashed it into a guardrail west of Prineville, Oregon, and fled the scene, leaving the truck partly submerged in an irrigation canal.
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Crash Kills Woman, 91, Injures Policeman

Date: October 12, 2009
Location: Highway 58 & Crestview Street, Oakridge, Oregon
Names: Virginia Spalinger, Daniel Miller

(Photo: KVAL.com)

The Oakridge, Oregon, community was stunned and grieving after a shocking car crash on October 12, 2009, killed a 91-year-old grandmother and seriously injured a young police officer. The head-on collision at the only stoplight in the small town killed Virginia Spalinger, 91, and critically injured Officer Daniel Miller, 27, who was pursuing a speeder with his siren and police lights on when Spalinger drove her car into his path. Miller has since been released from the hospital.

The crash occurred around 4 PM at the intersection of Highway 58 and Crestview Street in Oakridge, a small town east of Eugene. According to an Oregon State Police press release, Miller, who was attempting to pull over a speeder, was approaching the intersection in the left westbound lane, when Spalinger, who was traveling in the opposite direction, entered the left turn lane and started to turn onto Crestview Street, directly in front of the police car. The two vehicles collided head-on in the middle of the intersection.

Miller was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He was initially in critical condition, but The Register-Guard said on October 14 that his condition had stabilized. Spalinger was transported to the same hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

In an interview with KVAL.com, Spalinger’s son, Ed, said his mother was on her way to her regular Monday bowling game in the family’s cherished 1965 Thunderbird. “It’s shocking to know that in a small community like Oakridge, something like this would happen, you know? A head-on collision at the only stoplight in town.”

Oakridge police were trying to come to grips with the tragedy that left one of their own in a hospital bed. Oakridge Police Chief Louis Gomez told KVAL.com that officers will undergo counseling to deal with the aftermath of the crash.

Ed Spalinger told KVAL.com that his mother only drove her car twice a week, did not have any vision or hearing problems, and just had her license renewed last year. He said his mother enjoyed driving and cherished her independence.

As events started to sink in, Oakridge residents began to question whether police should reexamine their procedures for chasing speeders. Two locals, Don Hadley and Clifford Himmel, contacted KVAL.com with their concerns.

This was the second fatal collision in the last year that involved an Oakridge police officer chasing a speeder. In September 2008, police were in pursuit of a motorcyclist traveling about 90 MPH on Highway 58. Eric Bracken Tyner, 32, of Bend, led officers on a high-speed chase for eight miles before he missed a turn, collided with a guardrail, and was thrown from his motorcycle. Officer Zechariah Ames was unable to avoid striking Tyner with his patrol car.

According to the Register-Guard, Oakridge police are conducting an internal investigation to make sure Miller followed procedure. Both Spalinger and Miller were using safety restraints at the time of the crash.

The Oakridge Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. The highway was closed for about 4 1/2 hours during the on-scene investigation. As of October 14, Oregon State Police were continuing to investigate the accident, assisted by the Oakridge Police Department.

Why do people speed? To get somewhere quicker? Shaving a few minutes off your trip is not worth the risk of potentially harming or killing another innocent driver or passenger. For the thrill? The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Traffic Crash Summary reports that in 2008 alone, speed-related accidents killed 216 Oregonians. That number far exceeds the amount of drunk-driving fatalities! But, as always, law enforcement is in full effect, and the Oregon State Police are continually looking for ways to both protect the innocent and punish those who endanger lives. If caught, you could lose your license, receive an expensive ticket or go to jail.

The risk is too great—lives can be lost as well as licenses and the ability to operate your own vehicle. It’s not worth it.

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.

In Strange Accident, Garbage Truck Runs Over and Kills Woman

Date: October 12, 2009
Location: Forest Court, Veneta, Oregon
Names: Anna Baker

In a devastatingly bizarre accident, a Lane County, Oregon, woman died October 12, 2009, after being run over by a garbage truck. Anna Baker, 62, of Veneta, was killed in the nightmarish event that left her unnoticed in the road until a neighbor saw her and called paramedics.

Deputies believe a County Transfer recycling truck ran over Baker, on Forest Court in Veneta, sometime during the morning of October 12.

The neighbor who found her was on his way to the store when he noticed something in the road. Initially, he thought it was a pile of rags, but as he drew nearer, he realized it was a badly injured woman. Baker was still alive, but died shortly after paramedics reached the scene.

Baker was known as a friendly woman who often came out to talk to garbage employees. Lieutenant Byron Trapp told KMTR.com, “They do say she frequently comes out and says hi and visits and chats with them.”

County Transfer is cooperating with the investigation.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone with information on the case contact them at 541-682-4141.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the friends and family of Anna Baker, and the community she seemed to have loved being a part of. This is an unbelievable and heartbreaking story. We realize how horrible this must be for everyone who knew her, and for the workers who talked to her almost every day. Our condolences fail in a situation like this, but know that you are in our thoughts.

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Motorcycle Crash Kills Eagle Point Man

Date: September 25, 2009
Location: U.S. 199, north of Grants Pass
Names: Harrel Eugene Neal

An Eagle Point motorcyclist died about 2:20 PM on September 25, 2009, after his motorcycle swerved onto the shoulder of U.S. 199 near Grants Pass, hitting a guardrail. Harrel Eugene Neal, 51, was thrown off his 2005 Honda motorcycle, Oregon State Police told The Oregonian. Neal was wearing a helmet. An ambulance crew, which happened to be nearby, was able to reach the scene in minutes, but they were unable to revive Neal.

Responders included the Oregon Department of Transportation and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies. State police are continuing to investigate.

Our hearts go out to Neal’s family during this difficult time. Anytime a motorcycle fatality occurs, we are reminded of the high injury and death rates for motorcycle riders. Several factors contribute to the potential risk: a motorcycle itself is more difficult to handle than a car, and two-wheeled vehicles are less stable than those with four wheels. Adding to the danger, some car drivers may find motorcyclists hard to see, or just aren’t watchful of them. And a substantial factor in many crashes is inexperience. This is why we welcome the new Oregon law requiring motorcycle skills training, and we are optimistic that this will make the roads safer for all.

Several factors could have contributed to this accident. Poor road conditions, faulty mechanics, distracted driver. That’s why, 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 our book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.