On August 9, 2017, at about 4:25 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) Troopers responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on Highway 126E, east of Vida in Lane County. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Ford Explorer was eastbound when for unknown reasons, left the roadway and struck a large boulder off the south shoulder. The vehicle caught fire after impact and was fully engulfed prior to emergency personnel arrival. The driver and sole occupant of the Ford Explorer was pronounced deceased at the scene and the identity has yet to be confirmed. Both lanes of Highway 126E were closed for approximately one hour before one lane was opened for commuting vehicles. OSP was assisted by Oregon Department of Transportation Incident Response, McKenzie Fire and Rescue, US Forest Service, and Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released when available.
