Hwy. 126W Fatal, Sept. 18

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Tuesday evening’s single vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred along Highway 126W west of Veneta. OSP is working with the Lane County Medical Examine r to positively identify the victim. According to Master Sergeant Lang Hinkle, on September 16, 2014 at approximately 6:00 p.m., a 1995 Honda Accord station wagon containing one person was traveling eastbound on Highway 126W near milepost 36 negotiating a left curve when it went off the side of the highway and struck a tree. The vehicle caught fire and a passing motorist stopped at the scene. Due to the spreading fire, they weren’t able to get the victim out of the vehicle or put the fire out as it spread to several trees and surrounding brush. Firefighters from Lane Fire Authority and Lane Rural Fire Rescue responded to the scene to extinguish the fire that spread to an estimated ?3/4 of an acre area. OSP troopers from the Springfield and Florence offices, along with Lane County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene. The highway was blocked about two hours before one lane was opened to traffic. ODOT assisted at the scene with traffic control.