Truck Crash

Date: January 10, 2010
Location: I-84 near Pendleton, Oregon
Names: Susan Arhart, Michael Archebelle; Mark Marinelli; Manuel Herrera

On January 10, 2010, a series of single-vehicle crashes involving commercial trucks closed westbound lanes of I-84 east of Pendleton, Oregon, for several hours. One of the crashes injured two people. In a press release, OSP blamed poor visibility due to icy road conditions and a thick blanket of fog.
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Date: December 28, 2009
Location: U.S. Highway 30, Astoria, Oregon
Names: Wesley James Garrett, Frank F. Boncz, Stanley C. Baller, Jr., Jamie Bryan Pellham

Icy roads may have contributed to a crash December 28, 2009, on U.S. Highway 30 near Svensen Junction, in Astoria, Oregon, in which two people were injured.

According to The Daily Astorian, the crash occurred around 6 AM when Stanley C. Baller, Jr., 38, of Clatskanie, attempted to pass a bus and lost control of his truck. The truck spun around, and its passenger side hit several large trees.

Two passengers seated on the right side of the truck, Wesley James Garrett, 19, of Rainier, and Frank F. Boncz, 51, of Clatskanie, suffered broken bones and other injuries. They were transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, then airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for further treatment.

The driver, Baller, and a third passenger, Jamie Bryan Pellham, 33, of Rainier, were unhurt.

Oregon State Police, Knappa Fire District, and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

We send our personal wishes and thoughts to Garrett and Boncz. We hope your recovery is a quick one.

With the holidays just behind us, there could be snow ahead. It is always important to watch out for ice on the road. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” warns that better cars, better roads, and better tires don’t take the place of careful driving.

Among ODOT’s tips:

•    In snow or fog, drive with your low beams on. And keep headlights clean – dirty headlights can cut visibility in half.
•    Keep a good grip on the steering wheel. Do not make sudden turns; if you skid, correct your car using a light touch.
•    Increase following distance, then increase it some more. ODOT recommends at least three times the normal following distance in snow or ice.
•    Plan ahead for intersections.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.
•    If you hit a patch of ice, ease up on the accelerator and let your car “roll” through.
•    Remember that posted speed limits are meant for dry conditions, not rain, snow, sleet, or ice. Slow down during winter weather.

What if, despite your careful driving, you – or someone you love – is injured in a car crash? You probably have lots of questions, and we can help you answer many questions at no charge. Or order our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

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Date: December 24, 2009
Location: Highway 42, near Remote, Oregon
Names: Kenneth Michael Rasmussen

Kenneth Michael Rasmussen, 48, of Bakersfield, California, died December 24, 2009, in a single-vehicle truck crash on an icy bridge near the small town of Remote, Oregon, east of Myrtle Point in Coos County.

KPIC-TV reports that the crash occurred on Highway 42, about five miles east of Remote, as Rasmussen was driving west. Around 9:45 AM, Rasmussen lost control of his truck on an icy bridge. It started to fishtail, hit an embankment on the shoulder, and rolled twice before coming to rest on its top.
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Date: December 15, 2009
Location: I-84, Ontario, Oregon
Names: Milton Scot Belton, Miguel Victorio-Alvarez, Francisco Roberto Lecaro

The Oregonian reports that on December 15, 2009, around 8 AM, two truck drivers, who had pulled to the side of the road to put on chains, were hit by a commercial truck.

The accident, which occurred on an I-84 off-ramp near Ontario, Oregon, killed Milton Scot Belton, 49, of Colville, Washington, and injured Miguel Victorio-Alvarez, 45, of Nampa, Idaho. Victorio-Alvarez’s injuries were not life-threatening.
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Date: December 14, 2009
Location: Highway 47 near Gaston, Oregon
Names: Alfred L. Spry

Oregon State Police reported in a press release that Alfred L. Spry, 62, of Gaston, Oregon, died December 14, 2009, after his truck went off the highway and into the side ditch around 11 PM.

The accident occurred during poor weather conditions. Oregon State Police said it was raining; The Oregonian said there was ice on the road.
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Date: December 7, 2009
Location: Marquam Road, near Mt. Angel, Oregon
Names: Marc Moberly, Roman Fabyanchuk

On December 7, 2009, Marc Moberly, 51, of Silverton, Oregon, died in a crash on Marquam Road near Mt. Angel. According to the Woodburn Independent, Moberly’s pickup truck was hit by a semi truck driven by Roman Fabyanchuk, 25, of Washington.

Moberly was taken to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital by Life Flight. He died there later the same day.
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