Preliminary information now indicates 4 people died in four separate traffic crashes in Oregon during the 78-hour 2014 Fourth of July holiday period between 6:00 p.m., July 3, and 11:59 p.m., July 6. Information regarding a fourth fatal crash was received by ODOT’s Fatality Analysist Reporting System (FARS) from Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The following is a brief overview of the four confirmed reported fatal traffic crashes: * On July 4, 2014 at approximately 8:31 p.m., an off-road motorcycle operated by a 21-year old Reedsport man crashed in the Loon Lake area off Highway 38 in Douglas County. * On July 5, 2014 at approximately 10:03 p.m., a pickup driven by a 48-year old Madras man rolled off NE Clark Drive near NE Dogwood Lane north of Madras. The driver was ejected and transported to an area hospital where he died later that night from injuries sustained in the crash. * On July 6, 2014 at approximately 12:55 a.m., a passenger car driven by a 16-year old St. Helens girl was eastbound on Highway 30 near milepost 53 west of Rainier. For an unconfirmed reason, the car traveled off the highway and rolled numerous times before coming to rest on its top. The female driver was pronounced deceased at the scene and her 16-year old male passenger had minor injuries. * On July 6, 2014 at approximately 4:36 p.m., a 94-year old female from Hines died in a single vehicle rollover crash on Steens Mountain Loop Road in Harney County. During the 2013 Fourth of July 102-hour holiday period, four people died in 4 separate traffic crashes. The deadliest Fourth of July holiday period occurred in 1980 when there were 19 reported deaths during a 78-hour period. Since 1970, a total of 306 people have died in traffic crashes in Oregon during the Fourth of July holiday reporting periods. OSP troopers reported 50 DUII arrests statewide during this year’s holiday period. Last year, troopers reported 60 DUII arrests. Prior to each holiday period, OSP encourages citizens to report possible DUII drivers they spot on the road so troopers or other agency police officers can get into position to stop the vehicle and determine if the driver is impaired. Of this year’s 50 reported DUII arrests, eight were the direct results of citizen driving complaint reports to OSP dispatch centers helping troopers get in position to stop the vehicle. Six DUII arrests were connected to injury and non-injury traffic crashes investigated by troopers. The Coos Bay Area Command recorded three DUII arrests, while Springfield led the state with eleven.
