Passenger Seriously Injured in Single-Car Crash

Date: August 22, 2010
Location: I-5 near Rice Hill, Oregon
Names: Lathena J. Weber, Jaren G. Ortiz

A 27-year-old woman was seriously injured on August 22, 2010, when the car she was riding in lost control and crashed on I-5 near Rice Hill, Oregon, according to an OSP press release.

Around 2:30 PM, Jaren G. Ortiz, 21, of Sutherlin, was driving north on the highway when he lost control on a right-hand curve. The car swerved toward the center barrier, then left the road, rolled over once, and slid on the driver’s side until it crashed into a tree.

Ortiz had only minor injuries, according to a report on KVAL.com, but his passenger was not so fortunate. Lathena Weber, 27, also of Sutherlin, received a serious head injury. She was flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Ortiz told police he lost control when he overcorrected after driving into gravel at the side of the road. State police are continuing to investigate.

Whatever happened to cause this accident, it was not Weber who lost control of the car. She was simply occupying a passenger seat. Yet, tragically, she wound up with serious injuries.

We hope Weber recovers fully, and we send our thoughts and prayers her way. Any time we ride in a car while someone else drives, we put a huge amount of trust in the driver to keep us safe. And any time we’re driving with another person in the car, we need to be mindful of that trust, and take every possible caution.

It is very important to know about the potentially grave consequences of a head injury suffered in a car crash, and the possibility of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The effects of TBI can be so severe that a person is left in a vegetative, unresponsive state. But even mild TBI can affect your life dramatically, and it is more common than most people realize.

Symptoms of TBI can include headache, difficulty thinking, memory problems, attention deficits, mood swings, and frustration. If you have any of these symptoms after a car crash, it is vital to be evaluated by a medical professional with experience in TBI. Do not let doctors tell you these are just part of the emotional shock of a car crash. If there’s a chance of TBI, it is better to be safe than sorry.

DuBois Law Group represents victims with injuries resulting from 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, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by reading our Personal Injury FAQs, exploring our Library, or ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. If you still have questions, contact a Portland brain injury lawyer today.