Oregon Man Dies in Two Vehicle Crash

The Highway was closed to one lane of travel for approximately 2.5 hours.

Photo of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(JACKSONVILLE, Ore.) - A Jacksonville-area man received fatal injuries Tuesday afternoon in a two vehicle crash on Highway 238 west of Jacksonville.

Police say that around 5:00 PM, a 1986 Suzuki Samurai driven by 51-year old Donald R. Smith of Jacksonville was westbound on Highway 238 near milepost 30 when, for unknown reasons, it veered over the centerline into the eastbound lane of travel and collided with a 2001 Kenworth Dump truck pulling a dump trailer driven by 61-year old William B. Brunston JR. of Darby, Montana. The Samurai initially sideswiped the duel tires on the dump truck and then hit the front left end of the dump trailer head on.

Mr. Smith died shortly after medics arrived from injuries sustained in the crash. Safety restraint use in the crash on Mr. Smith's part is still to be determined.

Brunston sustained no injuries as a result of the crash.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by Oregon State Police Troopers from the Central Point Area Command and Grants Pass work site.

OSP Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and the Applegate Fire District. The Highway was closed to one lane of travel for approximately 2.5 hours.

Source: Oregon State Police