Three Injured in Head-On Car Accident in Walterville

Date: January 9, 2011
Location: McKenzie Hwy (SR126E) Walterville, OR
Names: Michael McCall, Dale Schnoor, Judy Adkins

A head-on car collision on the McKenzie Highway (SR126E) in Walterville, Oregon resulted in injuries to three people, according to Oregon State Police.

On Sunday January 9 at about 4:30pm a Toyota sedan driven by Michael McCall, age 59 of Walterville, was eastbound on McKenzie Highway and observed by witnesses as weaving in and out of its lane, sometimes into the opposing lane of travel. While traveling east in the westbound lane near the Walterville school, McCall collided head-on with a Ford Taurus driven by Dale Schnoor, age 64 of Eugene. Following impact, the Toyota ended up in the ditch and the Taurus blocked both lanes of travel.

Schnoor and his passenger, Judy Adkins, age 66 of Eugene, were transported to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. McCall was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend with serious injuries. All three occupants were wearing safety restraints. The police investigation of the Oregon car accident is continuing.

We are relieved that there were no fatalities in this serious head-on crash, and we send out our wishes for a speedy and full recovery to all.

Thankfully, all occupants were wearing safety restraints that probably prevented this from being a critical injury crash, considering the fact that eyewitnesses reported seeing McCall weaving in and out of oncoming traffic. Oregon law requires that all motor vehicle operators and passengers be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness, unless all safety-belt equipped seating positions are occupied by other persons. This applies to passenger cars, pick up trucks, motorhomes, and fee-based people transport carrying fifteen or fewer persons. Limited exemptions are allowed under ORS 811.215. Vehicle owners are required to maintain belt systems in working order.