Victim Identified in Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 126E

The fatal crash happened east of Finn Rock Wednesday morning.

Photo of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(EUGENE, Ore.) - A 30-year old man died early Wednesday morning in a single vehicle fatal traffic crash about one mile east of Finn Rock on Mckenzie River Highway 126E.

Police say that around 2:50 AM Wednesday, a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer driven by 30-year old Mark Lee Taylor of Eugene, was eastbound on Highway 126E near milepost 39 when, for unknown reasons, it drove over into the westbound lane and over an 8-foot embankment off the westbound shoulder.

While traveling down the embankment it struck a large boulder, rolled and struck a large tree before coming to rest on its top, investigators said. Mr. Taylor was using safety restraints and the vehicle's airbags deployed. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

No troopers were on duty at the time of the crash, so troopers from the Springfield Area Command had to be called out to respond and are completing the investigation. The Lane County Sheriff's Office and McKenzie River Fire District assisted with the crash.

The westbound lane was closed about five hours during the investigation.