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Date: February 2, 2011
Location: I-84 East of Pendleton
Name: Danny Rasco

Oregon State Police reported that a commercial truck caught fire on I-84 east of Pendleton, closing the highway for over three hours.

Danny Rasco, age 49, was driving a semi-trailer loaded with food and animal supplies from Idaho Falls when the truck lost power and caught fire. Rasco was able to get out of the burning truck without injury, but flames engulfed the truck and it took firefighters more than two hours to control the blaze.

The truck and trailer sustained extensive damage.

We are relieved that Mr. Rasco was uninjured in this frightening accident, and we hope that the cause of the fire is discovered soon to prevent another incident like this from happening again.

If you are suffering because of an Oregon truck crash and wondering what to do next, our Portland truck accident lawyers offer free information, including how to find a good lawyer, how much your case might be worth, and our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case is available for Oregon residents and people who were in an accident in Oregon. We also offer free consultations, and you can contact us if you have questions.

Date: January 13, 2010
Location: Highway 30 near NW Harborton Drive, Portland, Oregon
Names: Zeken Barker

Zeken Barker, a 25-year-old from Portland, was walking on Highway 30 near NW Harborton Drive in Portland, Oregon, when he was hit by a car and killed around 5:15 AM, January 13, 2010.

Barker, died in the accident. Police did not name the driver; she was not injured and stayed at the accident until police arrived.

Portland police said Barker was hit in dark, rainy conditions. He was also wearing dark clothing.

Police do not believe alcohol or speeding was involved, and no citations were issued.

We send our wishes to Barker’s family after this tragic accident, and we hope they find strength and support in family, friends, and community. Our thoughts are also with the driver, who did not leave the accident, which could have turned this into an even more devastating ordeal.

In most cases, the driver would be found at fault in a pedestrian accident. However, this is one of those situations in which the pedestrian, not the driver, could have been found at fault. Even if a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, a court could side with a driver if the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing.

A commenter on KGW’s article posted the following request: “Hey KGW – How about a sidebar on how best to be seen in weather like this?” We hope the following information is helpful.

Pedestrian Safety Facts

According to a 2007 report from the NHTSA, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash, on average, every 113 minutes. In other words, there is a pedestrian death in the U.S. almost every two hours. And a pedestrian is injured in a crash every 8 minutes.

A total of 70,000 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2007. In Oregon, 48 pedestrians died in 2007.

The most dangerous time to cross the street, by far, is a weekend evening. Nearly one-half of all pedestrian deaths occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A total of 35 percent happened on a weekend between 8 PM and 11:59 PM.

The next riskiest time: weekday afternoons (between 4 PM and 7:59 PM), with 24 percent of deaths.

How to Stay Safe

·    Wear light, bright, or reflective clothing during poor weather and at night.
·    Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight.
·    Walk on the sidewalk when possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
·    Cross at designated crosswalks when available.
·    Remember Mom’s advice: “Stop, look, and listen” before crossing. If a parked car is blocking your view of the street, stop at the edge of the vehicle and look around it before crossing the rest of the way.
·    Be especially careful at intersections. Failure to yield right of way often occurs when a driver is turning.
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Date: August 10, 2009
Location: U.S. 30, near Clatskanie
Names: Aja L. Gerrity, Amanda Williams, Richard Michael Araiza, Jason Cary Carter, Dustin Evan Leitzell, Ki Young Kim

Oregonlive.com reports the death of four teens Aja Gerrity, Amanda Williams, Richard Michael Araiza, Jason Cary Carter, and Dustin Evan Leitzell as seriously injured in an accident that occurred Monday, August 10.
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Date: July 29, 2009
Location: Southeast Division and 168th Avenue, Portland
Names: Richard Nordby, Victor M. Arechiga Coronado

Oregonlive.com reports the death of a wheelchair-bound man in an accident that occurred Wednesday evening in Southeast Portland.
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Date: May 31, 2009
Location: Highway 224 and SE 197th Avenue, Carver, OR
Type:  Car Accident
Outcome: 3 Minor Injuries
Names: Alexandria Anderson, Tammy Lynn Wissman, David Hensley

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle car crash this morning on Highway 224 near Carver. According to a Salem-News.com report, 24-year-old Canby resident Alexandria Anderson was driving westbound on Highway 224 in a 1977 Volkswagen Beetle convertible when she lost control around a curve in the road. The Volkswagen then drifted into the eastbound lane, slamming into the passenger side of a Jeep Sahara SUV driven by Tammy Lynn Wissman of Boring.
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Date: May 20, 2009
Location: SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR
Type:  Car Accident
Outcome: 3 Minor Injuries
Names: Not released

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening on SE 82nd Avenue in Portland, OR. The driver of a 2009 Chevy Impala, who appeared to have passed out while driving, crashed into the side of a Honda Civic in front of her.  Both vehicles ended up going off the road, knocking down a power pole and hitting a fire hydrant.

All three parties were transported to a hospital.  Fortunately, none of their injuries seemed to be life-threatening, Portland Police Officer Greg Pashley reported.

It is unclear at this point whether or not the woman driving the Impala had a previous medical condition that may have caused her to lose consciousness at the wheel, or was otherwise impaired. These kinds of car accidents can be especially complicated, because it is difficult to say exactly who, if anybody, is at fault. It may be that the woman knew that she had a certain medical condition, and should not have been driving. It may be that she was on prescription medication that had side effects her doctor did not warn her about. And it may be that it was a completely random incident. Thorough research and investigation will be needed to sort out the details of this case — something that a competent personal injury lawyer should be able to do.