Redmond Man Dies in Car-Truck Crash

Date: August 25, 2010
Location: Highway 20 near Blodgett, Oregon
Names: Duane Asle Haugen, Michael Brown

A Redmond, Oregon man died August 25, 2010, after the car he was driving crashed into an unloaded log truck, according to an OSP press release. The crash also injured the driver of the truck.

Around 9:50 AM, a car driven by Duane Asle Haugen, 57, of Redmond, was traveling east on Highway 20 near Blodgett, Oregon, when it crossed the center line and crashed into a truck driven by Michael Brown, 57, of Philomath.

Although Haugen was using safety restraints and the vehicle’s airbags deployed, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Brown was transported by REACH air ambulance to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with non-life threatening injuries. Police had not confirmed whether Brown was using safety restraints.

The crash closed both lanes of Highway 20 three hours. One lane of traffic opened around 12:50 PM, but closed again around 2:45 PM so the log truck could be towed. The highway reopened to traffic around 4:45 PM.

A funeral for Haugen was held September 19, 2010 at Redmond Community Church.

We send our condolences to Haugen’s family and friends after this tragic accident. We are also thinking of Brown, and hope that he recovers completely.

When a car crashes with a large truck, it’s often deadly – especially for the occupants of the car. In 2006, according to NHTSA statistics, 4,995 people died in crashes involving a large truck. Of these, 75% were occupants of another vehicle. Only 16% were riding in the truck.

One reason for this is weight. In any collision, a lighter vehicle is more vulnerable than a heavier one, and trucks are heavier than cars. Even a compact pickup truck can weigh 1,000 pounds more than a passenger car.

Commercial truck drivers also face job pressures that can contribute to accidents. Even though drivers are not allowed to work longer than 14 hours straight (including driving and non-driving time), and must then take a 10-hour break, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics points to other factors that could cause driver fatigue. For instance, the BLS says many drivers work close to the maximum time allowed because they are usually paid according to the number of miles they drive. And NHTSA’s numbers suggest that speeding may also be a problem. In 2006, nearly one-fourth (24%) of large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had at least one prior speeding conviction, while the figure for passenger car drivers was 19%.

This is not to say that truck drivers are always the ones at fault in car-truck crashes. But it certainly is a reminder of how important it is to be extra careful when sharing the road with a large truck.

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 us.