Near fatal collision reminds drivers to slow down and move over for EMS personnel
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, October 27th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
OREGON – As Oregon approaches winter, road conditions are naturally becoming more hazardous. This both means that the risk of traffic accidents will increase, and more and more emergency responders to those same accidents will be present on the roadside. Whether drivers are dodging sheets of ice, or the cars that have already spun out, it’s important to slow down and give clearance to vehicles on the road’s shoulder.
What could be described as a textbook, though admittedly extreme, example of what NOT to do when approaching other vehicles pulled over to the side of the road, along with the consequences of colliding with them, recently occurred near Roseburg, Oregon. As written by the Oregon State Police:
“On Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at approximately 7:30 a.m., an Oregon State Police patrol sergeant stopped a motorist for a traffic violation on Hwy 138E, facing westbound near milepost 10, in Douglas County.
During the traffic stop, an eastbound motorist crossed multiple lanes of travel and crashed head-on into the stopped vehicle. The operator of the stopped vehicle was critically injured. The patrol sergeant miraculously only suffered minor injuries and the suspect suffered minor injuries. All of the involved were transported for medical evaluation and treatment.
Limited information is available for release at this time due to the ongoing criminal investigation. The Oregon State Police is conducting an investigation into the potential impairment of the suspect impaired driver. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash.”
As mentioned by the OSP, the vehicle that caused the collision was traveling in the opposite direction and crossed several lanes, with impairment believed to be a factor. While these circumstances are unique compared to drivers simply passing a construction zone too fast or not giving enough clearance to an ambulance, the point remains that EMS personnel, highway crews and even other motorists are still at risk even when pulled over. A high-speed collision where one vehicle is stationary is still a high-speed collision, with just as disastrous results.
Remember to slow down, move over, or both. With freezing conditions setting in across the state, drivers will have less time to react and the presence of vehicles on the roadside will be higher than normal. For more information on Oregon’s Move Over Law, along with other traffic safety advice, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Safety/Pages/Enforcement.aspx
