The Oregon State Police are reporting that during the 78-hour Labor Day Holiday, 11 Oregonians were killed in traffic crashes. That’s up from an average of 7 fatalities that have occurred each holiday weekend since 1970.
Here’s the sad list of carnage (read the full press release on the OSP website):
* On Friday, August 29th, at approximately 8:10 p.m. a 39-year old female died when her sport utility vehicle left the highway in the 35000 block of South Sawtell Road in the Molalla area and struck a power pole. The victim was using safety restraints and alcohol is a possible contributing factor. Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency.
* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 12:40 a.m. two unidentified men died when their sport utility vehicle flipped off the west end of the St. Johns Bridge in Portland. Safety restraint use information is not available and the cause remains under investigation. Portland Police Bureau is the lead investigating agency.
* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 2:58 a.m. a 59-year old man and 60-year old woman died when the car crashed into a light pole at the intersection of SE 10th Street and SE Walnut Street in Hillsboro. Safety restraint use information is not available and the cause is under investigation. The Washington County interagency crash investigation team is leading the investigation.
* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 2:05 p.m. a 37-year old Caldwell, Idaho man died after losing control of his sport utility vehicle northbound on Highway 395 near milepost 48 and rolled multiple times. The victim was using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.
* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 11:57 p.m. a 45-year old Lakeside man died when he crashed while operating a motorcycle in the 500 block of N. 8th Street in Lakeside. Coos County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency.
* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 6:20 a.m. a 23-year old Gresham man died after losing control of his pickup eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 113 and rolled numerous times. The victim was using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.
* On the morning of Sunday, August 31st, a 9-year old Tigard girl died when the pickup she was riding in rolled down a steep embankment off the Izee – Paulina Highway near milepost 38. Grant County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency.
* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 10:24 a.m. a 48-year old Grand Ronde man died after losing control of his car and flipping several times on the Highway 18 business loop between Willamina and Sheridan. The victim was not using safety restraints, and alcohol and speed are possible contributing factors. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.
* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 3:15 p.m. a 64-year old San Rafael, California man died after driving off Highway 101 near milepost 206 and colliding with a tree. The victim was not using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.
But, hey, there are cyclists riding around without lights! Somebody call the papers!
See? SUV\’s are WAY more dangerous than bicycles!
I rode home on Friday night of labor day weekend around midnight from NE. In the bar district between Stark and Hawthorne, no less than 5 drivers blew stop signs and nearly ran me over or pushed me into the oncoming lane. I was well lit and riding safely. Seriously people- don\’t drive while intoxicated.
Off the St. John\’s Bridge? A 9 year-old girl? How did the bridge happen and how far did they fall? The poor girl and her family. I bet one of her parents were driving too. Terrible.