Horse Trailer Jackknifes, Collides with SUV on Highway 97

Date: December 28, 2010
Location: La Pine, OR
Names: Jane Coby Webb, William Fiebig, Trent (child), Sydney (child), Moises Jimenez Garcia, Maria Garcia

On December 27, 2010 at approximately 9:07 a.m. a 2006 Ford pickup truck pulling an empty 20-foot horse trailer driven by Jane Coby Webb, age 40, of Cherry Valley, California was headed south on Highway 97 near milepost 169. The pickup and trailer slid on the packed snow and icy roadway and jackknifed into the northbound lane of traffic.

A northbound 2005 Chevrolet SUV driven by Moises Jimenez Garcia, age 52, of Mattawa, Washington tried to avoid a collision by steering to the left but crashed head-on with the driver’s side of the Ford pickup. After impact, the Ford pickup and horse trailer came to rest in the east side ditch, and the Chevrolet came to rest in the west side ditch.

Coby Webb and her 4-year old son Trent were transported by Airlink air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Her husband, William Fiebig, age 32, and 4-year old daughter Sydney were transported to the same hospital by ground ambulance and treated and released. Coby Webb was last reported to be in critical condition and her son was being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The family was returning home after visiting relatives in the Bend area.

Jimenez Garcia and passenger Maria Garcia, age 53, were transported by Crescent Ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with serious injuries.

All adult occupants were using safety restraints and the children were in booster seats.

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers from the Gilchrist office are further investigating the collision with help from Bend Area Command office troopers. The crash closed the highway near La Pine for nearly four hours.

Our hope is that Ms. Coby Webb and her son, along with all of the others injured in this unfortunate car accident will quickly recover to optimum health.

• Whenever road conditions are hazardous with ice, snow or rain, give yourself extra time to reach your destination, and drive at a slower pace than normal.
• When you need to stop the car, start braking earlier than usual. This allows room for extra stopping distance. It also signals the driver behind you that you’re planning to come to a stop.
• Take curves and turns especially slowly.
• If you do cross a puddle or icy area, tap your brake lightly and ease off the brake.
• Do not use cruise control. If you do, and you hydroplane, it’s possible your car could accelerate.
• Always use headlights in the rain or snow – even if it’s just a sprinkle. Headlights help you see and be seen in dreary, wet weather.

Finally, if the weather is so bad that you can’t see the car in front of you, or you’re having difficulty seeing the road, pull over and wait for the storm to die down.