Two Injured in Head on Crash on I-5 Near Coburg

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(COBURG, Ore. ) - Two people were injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash Monday afternoon on Interstate 5 north of Coburg.

At approximately 4:00 PM, a 1996 Ford Explorer was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 210.

The Explorer crossed the median and collided head-on with a southbound 2005 Chevrolet Impala.

The operator of the Chevrolet Impala suffered critical injuries and was transported by REACH air ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene.

Her identity is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

The operator of the Explorer, 41-year-old Robert Connell, of Portland, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart with non-life threatening injuries.

At this point it is unknown why the Explorer crossed the median.

Both vehicles ended up off the roadway on the west side of the freeway.

The southbound lanes were closed for approximately 40 minutes to allow for the helicopter to land.

Southbound traffic was restricted to one lane for approximately two hours, and the freeway was completely opened at 6:10 PM.

The crash investigation is being conducted by troopers from the Oregon State Police Albany Area Command.

A collision reconstructionist and several troopers from the Springfield Area Command also assisted with the investigation at the scene.

Traffic control was provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Personnel from Springfield Fire and Rescue and the Halsey-Shedd Fire Department also assisted at the scene.