Oregon Labor Day Traffic Fatalities Tie With Worst Since 1988

Following notification of another fatal crash over the 78-hour Labor Day holiday extended weekend, Oregon's new count is now ten fatalities in eight fatal crashes.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon's past two major holiday weekend fatality reduction statistics was thrown into reverse during the 78-hour 2008 Labor Day Holiday extended weekend as preliminary information indicates 10 people were killed in eight separate traffic crashes between 6:00 PM, August 29th, and 11:59 PM, September 1st.

With summer coming to an end with the traditional last hurrah, law enforcement was on duty en masse across the state to try and make it a safe holiday.

On average, 7 people have died over this holiday weekend each year since 1970. Six people died during this holiday weekend last year. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers also arrested more DUII drivers during the holiday weekend while wrapping up the national enforcement crackdown on intoxicated drivers.

The highest fatality count since 1988 occurred when ten people died in 2005, which was tied this year.

"This year's fatality figure ties the highest over the last ten years. It's a somber reminder that rising fuel prices and lower traveler estimates don't always result in less traffic fatalities.

"Traffic safety still always falls first in the hands of each driver, making sound travel plans and driving decisions," said Oregon State Police Superintendent Timothy McLain, whose agency joined thousands of law enforcement agencies around the nation working hard to reduce traffic crashes from happening.

According to known police reports from Oregon law enforcement agencies each fatal crash involved a single vehicle, including two crashes in which two people were killed. Two others died in traffic crashes on Friday, August 29th, prior to the official reporting period's 6:00 PM start. The following is a brief review of this year's fatality crashes:

* On Friday, August 29th, at approximately 8:10 p.m. a 39-year old female died when her sport utility vehicle left the highway in the 35000 block of South Sawtell Road in the Molalla area and struck a power pole. The victim was using safety restraints and alcohol is a possible contributing factor. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is the lead investigating agency.

* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 12:40 AM two unidentified men died when their sport utility vehicle flipped off the west end of the St. Johns Bridge in Portland. Safety restraint use information is not available and the cause remains under investigation. Portland Police Bureau is the lead investigating agency.

* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 2:58 AM 59-year old Michael David Pitner, and 60-year old Roberta Lynne Moore, both of Hillsboro died when the car crashed into a light pole at the intersection of SE 10th Street and SE Walnut Street in Hillsboro. Safety restraint use information is not available and the cause is under investigation. The Washington County interagency crash investigation team is leading the investigation.

* On Saturday, August 30th, at approximately 2:05 PM 37-year old Miguel Ramirez from Caldwell, Idaho man died after losing control of his sport utility vehicle northbound on Highway 395 near milepost 48 and rolled multiple times. The victim was using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 6:20 AM 23-year old Zachary Dolan from Gresham died after losing control of his pickup eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 113 and rolled numerous times. The victim was using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 10:24 AM 48-year old Allan J. Butler from Grand Ronde died after losing control of his car and flipping several times on the Highway 18 business loop between Willamina and Sheridan. The victim was not using safety restraints, and alcohol and speed are possible contributing factors. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* On Sunday, August 31st, at approximately 3:15 PM 64-year old Leonard Eugene Olson JR of San Rafael, California man died after driving off Highway 101 near milepost 206 and colliding with a tree. The victim was not using safety restraints and the cause remains under investigation. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* The latest known fatal traffic crash that took the life of a 9-year old Tigard girl happened Sunday morning. The pickup she was riding in was westbound on the Izee–Paulina Highway near milepost 38, rounding a curve when its tires left the pavement. The driver over-corrected, traveling back across both lanes of travel and rolled several times down a steep embankment on the south side of the highway. The victim was riding in the pickup's back seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Grant County Sheriff's Office investigated, with the assistance of Oregon State Police and John Day Police Department.

Two other fatal traffic crashes happened prior to the official Friday 6:00 PM starting period.

Marion County Sheriff's Office investigated a fatal motorcycle crash on August 29th at approximately 2:00 PM that resulted in the death of a 60-year old Lake Oswego man on Breitenbush Road near Detroit Lake.

In the second fatal crash investigated by Oregon State Police, a 56-year old Waldport man died over the weekend following an August 29th two-vehicle crash at approximately 12 noon on Highway 101 near milepost 152. According to initial investigative information, alcohol is a possible contributing factor in two of the seven fatal crashes. Based upon known statistics gathered by ODOT's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), since 1985 about 53% of Labor Day holiday weekend fatalities were alcohol involved. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers reported 87 DUII arrests between August 29th and September 1st. This is an increase from the 2007 and 2006 Labor Day holiday weekends when OSP troopers arrested 78 intoxicated drivers each year. The highest number of trooper DUII arrests over the holiday weekend was made by the OSP Bend Area Command office with ten arrests, followed by the Salem Area Command office with seven. Three other OSP offices (Coos Bay, Central Point, and Grants Pass) reported six DUII arrests.

The Labor Day holiday weekend fell on the end of a national intensive enforcement crackdown on impaired driving. "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" ran August 15th through September 1st. Preliminary OSP statistics indicate troopers arrested 208 intoxicated drivers during this crackdown.

In addition to increased DUII enforcement efforts, OSP troopers worked with several county and city agencies targeting hazardous traffic violations.

According to the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association, deputies arrested 75 motorists and charged them with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. There were 343 total arrests made during the weekend which included 70 various felony charges.

Sheriff's Offices reported that deputies investigated 38 other injury motor vehicle crashes and assisted other agencies with 11 injury crashes.

On a positive note, Marine deputies reported no fatal boating accidents. They did report investigating one drowning, 1 boating crash involving injuries, and 1 person was arrested for Boating While Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

During the holiday weekend, preliminary enforcement statistics for OSP troopers show over 1500 speed-related citations, nearly 100 safety restraint violation citations, and more than 440 disabled motorists assisted including 323 along interstate freeways.