Albany Man Killed in Crash on Highway 20 Near Eddyville

Two others were seriously injured in the crash.

Photo of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - Police say an Albany-area man died and two others were seriously injured Wednesday morning in a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 20 about two miles east of Eddyville. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation.

OSP Sergeant Justin McGladrey says today at approximately 8:10 a.m. a 2006 Saab sedan driven by 62-year old Edward Randolph Johnston of Salem, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 26 when it attempted to pass another vehicle using the westbound lane.

He says a westbound red 2008 Honda Civic driven by 26-year old Joseph Oliver Ernst of Albany, first reportedly moved toward the eastbound lane to avoid the oncoming Saab and then steered back into the westbound lane where the vehicles collided head-on.

"After impact, the Honda came partially to rest on top of a concrete side barrier on a bridge over a creek," McGladrey said.

Mr. Ernst was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints and the car's airbags deployed. The Honda's passenger, 17-year old Gregory Jay Higgins of Crabtree, Oregon was seriously injured and transported by Pac West ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis. McGladrey says Greg Higgins, who was the victim's stepbrother, was using safety restraints.

Edward Johnston was seriously injured and transported by air ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis. He was using safety restraints and his car's airbags deployed.

McGladrey says OSP troopers from the Newport Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

The Lincoln County District Attorney's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and members of the Lincoln Multi-Agency Traffic Crash Team are assisting.

Local fire personnel and ODOT were on scene and a detour was set up around the area until the highway was re-opened about noon.