Drunk Driving Suspected in Crash

Date: March 28, 2010
Location: Highway 62 near Prospect, Oregon
Names: Russell Schultz

A 43-year-old Prospect, Oregon, man died March 28, 2010, in a single-vehicle crash, and Oregon State Police said in a press release that evidence at the scene indicates alcohol was a factor.

The crash happened around 1:40 AM, as a pickup truck driven by Russell Schultz, 43, was traveling east on Highway 62, and suddenly drifted onto the eastbound shoulder. Schultz tried to get the truck back on the road, but overcorrected the steering. The pickup rolled several times, coming to a rest on its wheels.

Schultz was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. Police are continuing to investigate, but said that evidence at the scene leads them to believe that drunk driving was involved.

Troopers are looking for anyone who knows the location Schultz was traveling from. If you have any information, please contact Trooper Venables at 541-776-6114 ext. 335.

We are saddened by this crash, and our hearts go out to Schultz’s family. Anytime a life is lost on the highway, it is a tragedy, and when alcohol is involved, it is a needless one.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are up to 36 deaths and 700 injuries every day in the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The CDC reports that in 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. This comes to almost one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths. And in 2007, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence – but this is less than 1% of persons who admit to driving impaired each year. Male drivers and young people are especially likely to be involved.

It is important to understand what to do after you’ve been involved in a vehicle crash in Oregon where alcohol is a factor. We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit without an attorney. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Portland accident attorney.