Salem-News.com Traffic articles

Bend Firefighter Killed in Motorcycle Crash with Bear

Tragedy is a reminder of unforeseen risks on the road.

(WARM SPRINGS, Ore.) - 39-year old Rhett Larsen, an off-duty firefighter from Bend, was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle eastbound when a large bear ran into his path on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. He was unable to avoid the bear and struck the animal in the eastbound lane.

Larsen was thrown from his motorcycle and then was struck by a westbound Ford SUV pulling a utility trailer driven by 57-year old Margaret Sweo, from Oregon City. Sweo's vehicle traveled off the roadway and rolled onto its side.

Memorial Day Weekend is No Time to Drive Loaded

Drunk driving crashes are PREVENTABLE!

(SALEM, Ore.) - Along with police agencies across the country, the Marion County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Team will be on the lookout for impaired drivers this Memorial Day Weekend. Beginning May 25th and ending May 28th, patrols will be stepped up, with additional deputies who will be attempting to locate DUII drivers.

Deputies will be working all hours of the day and night to ensure a safe traveling experience for our residents and visitors. The focus, according to ODOT, will be to make sure child passengers are buckled up; ensuring traffic moves over for emergency vehicles; and getting impaired drivers off the road.

Erratic Motorhome Leads to Officer Involved Shooting

Shots were fired but no one sustained gunshot injuries.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Four Salem Police Officers were involved in a line-of-duty shooting following a dangerous incident in which a motorhome struck two police patrol vehicles.

The driver, 61-year old Roy Victor Devoursney of Salem, exited the vehicle and refused to comply with officers' commands, resulting in the deployment of a taser and then officers took him into custody.

12 Elk Killed in Crash on Oregon Hwy 26

Unbeknownst to drivers, highways often serve as animal trails in the dark of night.

(BANKS, Ore.) - At 4:30 this morning, the Oregon State Police and Washington County Sheriff's office responded to a crash on Highway 26 near milepost 54 in Washington County.

There were 13 known elk hit by at least one, possibly more, vehicles. Approximately half of the elk were killed on scene and the others were put down for humanitarian reasons.

Old-Fashioned Driving Directions May Keep You Alive this Winter

OSP is warning the public about the dangers of mapping software or GPS units that may lead motorists into a dangerous situation during winter months.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Highway 22 is currently closed and motorists traveling between Central Oregon and the Willamette Valley are being urged to take Highway 20 through Sweet Home or Highway 26 through Government Camp.

Over the weekend, OSP Dispatch received several calls of motorists attempting to take Highway 22, but being rerouted by their GPS units onto Forest Service roads near Detroit.

School Bus Crashes with All Aboard

The kids are all alright.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Today at about 3:30 PM, Marion County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 11400 block of Sunnyview Rd NE regarding a traffic crash. This crash involved a school bus full of kids, all of which are ok, and a smaller ford pickup.

The investigation has determined icy road conditions to be the cause. The driver of the pickup lost control and crossed the center line and hit the bus head-on.

Ten Car Accident on I-5 Near Woodburn

Witnesses are asked to call the Oregon State Police at 1-800-452-7888.

(WOODBURN, Ore.) - A ten-car accident near Woodburn Tuesday night was a domino effect after a large object fell into the freeway.

At about 9:30 p.m., the Northern Command Center (NCC) was notified of a large metal object that had fallen off of a pick-up truck.

Four-Alarm Grass Fire Closes Roadways in SE Salem

The fire appears to be under control at this time.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem Fire Department along with units from the cities of Sublimity, Turner, Keizer and Marion County are battling a four alarm grass fire near Corban University.

The grass fire, which sparked in a field, led crews to close Deer Park Road between Aumsville Highway and Turner Road and Turner Road SE south of Kuebler Boulevard SE.

Motorcylist Crashed into a Bear near Breitenbush

The motorcyclist was flown by lifeflight to the nearest hospital.

(DETROIT, Ore.) - Sunday afternoon, a motorcyclist was riding on Breitenbush Rd near mile post 18.5 when he crashed into a black bear who was in the middle of his lane of travel.

The motorcyclist was flown to a hospital to be treated for their injuries. It is unknown the extent of injuries to the motorcyclist at this time. The black bear died at the scene.

3-Vehicle Crash on OR Hwy 97

Serious injury crash south of Redmond injures three.

(DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore.) - A 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe turned northbound onto Highway 97 from Gift Road and pulled into the path of a southbound 2014 Infiniti Q50.

After the Infiniti collided into the Hyundai it crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a 1990 International dump truck.