Oregon Man Escapes Submerging Truck

The driver escaped his submerging pickup and was helped out of the water by an unidentified witness. He had minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Oakridge Fire Department personnel.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

(OAKRIDGE, Ore.) - Police say an Oakridge-area man escaped serious injury Tuesday morning after falling asleep and losing control of his pickup on Highway 58 about ten miles west of Oakridge.

"The man escaped from his submerging pickup after it went off the highway and into Lookout Point Reservoir," Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Erich Schermerhorn said.

Schermerhorn says it happened around 7:40 a.m. when a 2004 Mazda pickup driven by 51-year old Michael L. Robare of Oakridge, was eastbound on Highway 58 near milepost 24. Robare reportedly falling asleep.

"The pickup traveled off the south side highway shoulder, struck a rock embankment causing Robare to wake up and then try to drive back onto the highway. The pickup continued across the highway and off the north side shoulder where it drove down an embankment, up and over railroad tracks, and into the water of Lookout Point Reservoir."

Schermerhorn says Robare said he was able to escape his submerging pickup and was helped out of the water by an unidentified witness. He had minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Oakridge Fire Department personnel.

Robare was cited for Driving While Suspended, Failure to Maintain a Single Lane of Travel, and Driving Uninsured. His pickup is fully submerged at an unknown depth in the reservoir.

Schermerhorn transported Robare home after completing the scene investigation.

ODOT, a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer, and Union Pacific Railroad personnel also assisted at the scene.