Hwy. 126 Fatal, Feb. 15

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Tuesday morning’s fatal crash on Highway 126W near Veneta, west of Eugene.  On February 13, 2018, at approximately 9:10 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers from the Springfield Patrol office responded to a three vehicle crash on Highway 126W near milepost 51 in Lane County. Preliminary Investigation revealed that a 2001 Dodge Pickup, operated by Christopher SHERIDAN, age 32, from Springfield, was westbound when for unknown reasons failed to react to slowing traffic and struck the back of a 2006 Pontiac Vibe, forcing the white Dodge Pickup into the eastbound travel lane where it struck an eastbound 2006 Chrysler minivan nearly head-on. The driver of the minivan, Jeannie SAEBURN, age 51, from Veneta sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision. The male juvenile passenger of the minivan was transported to the local hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Pontiac Vibe, Kenneth SHEMEL, age 25 and his passenger Rachel SHEMEL, age 26, both from Eugene, were transported to the local hospital with minor injuries. SHERIDAN was also transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The highway was closed for about three hours. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) was able to set up a detour around the crash scene.