One Dies in Crash on Beltline Road

Police included safety tips on who wrong way drivers are, and what to watch out for.

Photos: Oregon State Police

(EUGENE, Ore.) - One person died and two others received non-life threatening injuries Sunday morning when a wrong way driver collided with another car on Beltline Road west of River Road in Eugene. Next of kin have been notified and Oregon State Police have included some driving safety tips at the end of the news release.

They say that early this morning, at 6:00 AM, a Buick Century driven by 80-year old Jack Lawrence of Eugene was eastbound in the left westbound lane on Beltline Road near milepost 7 when it collided with a westbound Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by 21-year old Brandon Bolton of Springfield.

Police say the front of both vehicle's collided with one another causing the Buick Century to slide into the guardrail on the north side of highway.

The three involved occupants were transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center where Mr. Lawrence died from his injuries. The Buick's female passenger, 58-year old Linda Spencer of Eugene, received non-life threatening injuries.

Bolton also received non-life threatening injuries.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation. It is unclear at this time why the Buick was traveling in the wrong direction.

Story continues below

Assistance at the scene was provided by the Eugene Police Department, Eugene Fire Department, and ODOT. Westbound traffic on Beltline Road was closed for 3 1/2 hours.

The following information and safety tips are offered related to wrong way drivers.

Who is the wrong way driver?

They are generally:

• Intoxicated driver
• Older drivers who easily get confused
• Intentional drivers (example - trying to avoid traffic jams / congestion caused by crashes)
• Inattentive drivers who mistake an off ramp for an on ramp

Wrong way drivers usually drive in the inside lane or inside shoulder, believing they are actually on a two-lane highway.

Most common types of wrong way driver involved crashes are head-on or sideswipe crashes.

Tips

• Watch far ahead for signs of a possible wrong way driver, looking for signs similar to pending problems or developing emergency situations such as other traffic braking or swerving to avoid something, or the obvious - headlights coming in the opposite direction.
• Caution against driving long periods in the inside lane on freeways, especially on curves.