Un muerto y un herido en un accidente en la carretera helada de Prineville

Date: November 20, 2009
Ubicación: Highway 26, east of Prineville, Oregon
Nombres: Wayne L. Elliott, Robert C. Mair

A John Day, Oregon, man was killed November 20, 2009, when his car skidded out of control on icy roads and crashed into a truck on Highway 26, about 25 miles east of Prineville. The crash took place around 4:20 PM. Wayne L. Elliott, 55, of John Day, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, Robert C. Mair, 68, of Mitchell, sustained unknown injuries.

Sgt. Don Wagner of the Oregon State Police told KTVZ.com that Elliott was driving a 2004 Chevrolet SUV west on the highway, near milepost 50, when he lost control on the ice. The car veered into the oncoming lane and crashed with a 1998 Dodge 3500 truck driven by Mair.

Mair was airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center – Bend. His condition was unavailable as of November 21, and a nursing supervisor at the hospital told KTVZ.com that Mair was not listed as a patient. The road was closed for about two hours after the crash.

According to KOIN.com, both men were wearing seat belts. OSP troopers are continuing to investigate.

As we move from November into the chilly days of December and January, it is ever more important to take extra care and watch out for ice on the road. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” warns that better cars, better roads, and better tires don’t take the place of careful driving.

Among ODOT’s tips:

• En nieve o niebla, conduzca con las luces bajas encendidas. Y mantenga los faros limpios; los faros sucios pueden reducir la visibilidad a la mitad.
•    Sujete firmemente el volante. No gire bruscamente; si derrapa, corrija el rumbo del automóvil con suavidad.
• Aumente la distancia de seguimiento y luego auméntela un poco más. ODOT recomienda al menos tres veces la distancia de seguimiento normal en nieve o hielo.
• Planifica con antelación para las intersecciones.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.
• Si te encuentras con una placa de hielo, suelta el acelerador y deja que tu auto “ruede” a través de ella.
• Recuerda que los límites de velocidad publicados son para condiciones secas, no para lluvia, nieve, aguanieve o hielo. Reduce la velocidad durante el clima invernal.

Qué hacer ahora:

•    Be prepared. Take a moment today to double-check your owner’s manual for the best braking technique for your car. Then, stash an emergency kit in the trunk.
Lee nuestro consejos para conducir bajo la lluvia.
• Siempre asegúrate de que tú y tus pasajeros lleven puesto el cinturón de seguridad.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Elliott’s family after this sad crash, and we hope Mair is recovering from his injuries. This is not a cut-and-dried case; many factors besides icy weather could have played a role. Sometimes an experienced Portland personal injury attorney can help victims find the answers they’re looking for. If you have any questions about finding a good personal injury lawyer, please let us know.

DuBois Law Group está ubicado en Portland, Oregón, y atiende a clientes en todas las ciudades y condados de Oregón, incluyendo Portland, Beaverton, Condado de Multnomah, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene y Albany.