Man Attempts to Flee Car Accident, Leaving Boy Behind

Date: April 11, 2011
Location: Keller Road at Highway 39 Intersection, Klamath Falls
Name: Steven Lamere, Bonnie Matern, Unidentified 11-year-old male

A man from Klamath Falls crashed the vehicle he was driving after trying to outrun Oregon State Police troopers and Klamath County deputies.

Oregon State Police news releases and Oregonlive.com report that at about 7:30pm Steven Lamere, age 35, was behind the wheel of a Ford Escort eastbound on Keller Street. Lamere was reportedly trying to elude officers and when troopers tried to overtake his car, Lamere drove through a stop sign at the Keller Street intersection with Highway 39 and crashed into a southbound Nissan Murano being driven by Bonnie Matern, age 53 of Springfield.

Lamere began to run away from the Oregon car accident scene, leaving behind an injured 11-year-old boy who was a passenger in his car. Troopers caught him a short distance from the crash scene, and both Lamere and the boy were transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center with minor injuries. Matern was not hurt.

At the time of the crash, Lamere had an outstanding parole violation warrant and was later booked into the Klamath County Jail facing additional charges of third-degree assault, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, misdemeanor attempt to elude on foot, and felony attempt to elude in a vehicle.

We are definitely relieved that no one appears to have been seriously injured in this crash, although it was probably a traumatic event for that poor child passenger who was left behind by the escaping driver!

Portland personal injury lawyers help ensure that individuals who cause accidents like this are held accountable for their actions.