Driver Facing Several Charges Following DUII-Involved Injury Crash

Law enforcement in Oregon continues a nationwide effort to prevent traffic crashes by targeting impaired drivers during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

The nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign aims to keep those driving, riding or walking on or along our roadways safe.

(COTTAGE GROVE, Ore.) - A 36-year old Portland man is facing several charges following Friday morning's alcohol-involved two-vehicle injury traffic crash on Interstate 5 near Cottage Grove.

On August 29, 2014 at approximately 12:33 a.m., a 1999 Honda Civic driven by 36-year old Benjamin V. Reicks from Portland, was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 176 when it struck the rear of a 2012 Kia Soul driven by 67-year old Patricia Lee from Auburn, Washington.

After impact, the Honda went off the roadway, damaged an ODOT exit sign and landed on its top.

Local emergency responders arrived on scene and transported both drivers to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend with non-life threatening injuries.

Initial investigation led OSP to cited Reicks for DUII-Alcohol, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.

Oregon State Police (OSP), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and law enforcement agencies in Oregon are continuing a nationwide effort to prevent traffic crashes by targeting impaired drivers during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

The nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign aims to keep those driving, riding or walking on or along our roadways safe.

Again this Labor Day holiday weekend - the second deadliest major holiday period for highway travelers in Oregon - OSP will put all available sworn personnel assigned to field operations on the road Friday, August 29, to supplement local highway safety efforts.

OSP Field Operations Major Travis Hampton said troopers will target crash-causing violations, many of which have a nexus to fatal and serious injury collisions.

Last year during the 2012 Labor Holiday 78-hour reporting period, two people died in traffic crashes on Oregon roads and OSP troopers made 54 DUII arrests.

This year's reporting period starts 6:00 p.m., Friday, August 29, and concludes Monday, 11:59 p.m., September 1.

Someone is killed on a road in the United States in an alcohol-impaired-driving crash every 51 minutes. Over the Labor Day weekend, that statistic jumps to one death nationally every 34 minutes. Since 1970, over half of Oregon's traffic fatalities during this holiday weekend were alcohol-involved.

Since August 15, Oregon troopers, deputies and city police officers have been targeting aggressive, dangerous, distracted, impaired and other drivers affecting safety on our roads. This "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign concludes at the end of the holiday period.

Drunk driving takes a particularly heavy toll during nighttime and among young drivers, and age group that is often most at risk.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), among 18- to 34-year old drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes during the 2012 Labor Day weekend, almost half (45%) were alcohol-impaired.

More than three-fourths of all drunken driving-related fatal crashes during the holiday weekend happened between 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. each day.

Everyone is urged to play an important part in keeping our highways and city streets safe by immediately reporting aggressive, dangerous, and intoxicated drivers to the Oregon State Police at 1-800-24DRUNK (1-800-243-7865) or call 9-1-1.

Source: Oregon State Police