Mother Dies, 8-Year-Old Son Hurt in Single-Car Crash

Date: July 10, 2010
Location: I-5 near Halsey/Brownsville interchange, Brownsville, Oregon
Names: Amy Elizabeth Langler, Evan Langler

State police are trying to determine the cause of a single-car rollover crash that killed a Portland mother and seriously injured her son on July 10, 2010, as they drove southbound on I-5 near the Halsey/Brownsville interchange in Brownsville, Oregon.

Around 9:40 AM, a car driven by Amy Elizabeth Langler, 43, of Northwest Portland, changed from the right to the left lane and drove partially onto the center gravel shoulder, according to an OSP press release. Witnesses said it appeared that the driver tried to get back into the southbound lane, but over-corrected and lost control. The car rolled several times, coming to a stop on the center grass median strip.

Amy Langler was pronounced deceased at the scene of the Oregon car accident. Her son, Evan Langler, 8, who was riding in the car, was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with serious injuries, then transferred to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Evan is expected to survive.

Amy and Evan Langler were the only people in the car. Both were wearing safety restraints.

OSP troopers from the Albany Area Command office are trying to determine what might have caused the crash.

We send our most heartfelt wishes to all of Amy Langler’s family and friends, but especially to Evan for a fast, complete recovery.

Here are some facts about rollover crashes.

When a person tries to correct the wheel while driving, a car should skid, not roll over. It should be very difficult to make a car roll over. However, it’s an unfortunate truth that there are some models and makes of vehicles that roll over very easily. These makes and models are well known and there have been successful lawsuits against the companies who build, sell and profit from these vehicles.

When a vehicle rolls over, it may be entirely driver error or it may be partially driver error and partially poor design. The difference is that the driver error is to be expected. We all know that drivers sometimes make errors and sometimes a quick correction is necessary, for example, when a deer runs in the road or even a cow. A driver should be able to jerk the wheel, make a sudden maneuver around an obstacle or to correct a drift without the car flipping over and causing injury or death.

In addition to being more stable and less likely to roll over, a car should be designed so that if it does roll over, there is enough strength and stability in the roof that the people inside don’t get crushed. Whenever there’s a rollover crash like this one, it may be easy to blame the driver. But there is another very important factor. And that is the companies who are making this car who know very well that the car is dangerous but who do nothing to correct it because it would cut into their bottom line.

DuBois Law Group represents victims of accidents. Our clients deserve representation with our experience, sensitivity and tenacity. Should an unfortunate episode find you or someone you know in need of representation as a result of an accident-related injury or death, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. If you still have questions, contact us.