Update: Name Released - Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 34 west of Lebanon in Linn County

UPDATE: NAME RELEASED - FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH - HIGHWAY 34 WEST OF LEBANON IN LINN COUNTY


News Release from Oregon State Police
Posted on FlashAlert: September 1st, 2014 2:08 PM
Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into an early Monday morning single vehicle fatal traffic crash along Highway 34 near Denny School Road west of Lebanon. The crash resulted in the death of an adult female whose name is released in this update.

According to Lieutenant Vonn Schleicher, on September 1, 2014 at approximately 3:50 a.m. a citizen found a crash scene with ejection along the south side of Highway 34 near Denny School Road. Emergency responders arrived on scene and confirmed BETHANY LEANNE WILSON, age 27, from Lebanon, was deceased.

Initial investigation by OSP, with the assistance of Linn County Sheriff's Office and Lebanon Police Department, indicates some time after 3:00 a.m. the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder driven by WILSON was eastbound on Highway 34 when it crossed the centerline and westbound lane. The vehicle went into the ditch, returned back onto the roadway and rolled before coming to rest on its side along the south side of Highway 34. WILSON was believed to not be using safety restraints and was ejected from the vehicle.

OSP troopers from the Albany Area Command office are investigating the crash. Trooper Nathan House is the lead investigator.

OSP was also assisted at the scene by Lebanon Fire District and ODOT. Highway 34 was closed about four hours at the scene during the investigation with a detour in place for local traffic.

According to ODOT's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a brief look at Labor Day holiday traffic crash statistics in Oregon since 1970 indicates:

* Fatalities average seven each year in Oregon over this holiday weekend.
* Since record-keeping began, more than 280 people have died during this holiday period, making it the second deadliest major holiday of the year.
* Alcohol is a contributing factor in over half of the traffic fatal crashes.
* The highest number of traffic fatalities occurred in 1978 when 17 people died.
* Oregon has never experienced a fatal-free Labor Day holiday weekend. Single fatality reporting periods occurred in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2010.

The Oregon State Police, Oregon State Sheriff's Association, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, and Oregon Department of Transportation offer the following safety reminders for holiday travel:

* Be watchful for emergency vehicles and workers. MOVE OVER if you are approaching any type of emergency vehicle, tow truck or roadside assistance vehicle which is stopped on the roadside with emergency lights activated.
* Get rested before you are tested. Fatigued drivers are more frequent during holiday weekends because of increased travel and activity. Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
* Stay up to date on road conditions by visiting TripCheck.com or calling 5-1-1. Outside Oregon, dial (503) 588-2941. In work zones, even when workers are not present, all speed limits still apply and fines double. Inactive work zones still have equipment, detours, and incomplete changes in the roadway so drivers need to slow down and be alert.
* Share the road. Watch for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially at night. Bicyclists and pedestrians need to make sure motorists can see them, and motorists needs to make sure they are seen.
* Watch out for motorcyclists, especially if the weather is nice.
* Buckle up every trip, every time. Be sure to use child safety seats correctly.
* Avoid distractions; don't use a mobile device while driving.
* Drive sober or let someone who is sober drive.

Everyone is urged to play an important part in keeping our highways and city streets safe by immediately reporting aggressive, dangerous, and intoxicated drivers to the Oregon State Police at 1-800-24DRUNK (1-800-243-7865) or call 9-1-1.

No photographs available for this release.

### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
Sent via FlashAlert Newswire. Replies to this message do not go back to the sender.
Go to http://FlashAlert.net/login.html to change or delete these messages.