Two-Car Crash Injures Thirteen Fairgoers

Date: August 20, 2010
Location: S. Central Point & New Era Road, near Canby, Oregon
Names: [Unknown]

A van and an SUV were apparently speeding when they crashed around 8 PM, August 20, 2010, injuring 13 people, three seriously, according to The Oregonian.

The occupants of one vehicle were on their way to the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo in Canby, while those in the other were returning from the event.

An article on NWCN.com describes both vehicles “traveling at high speeds” as they approached the intersection of S. Central Point & Era. One of the vehicles then drove through the stop sign.

Thirteen people were hospitalized for injuries, three of which were described as serious. Eleven people suffered minor or moderate injuries. All are expected to survive. There were two adults and six children in the van, and five teenagers in the SUV. As of Oct. 10, their names had not been released.

Fire department spokesman Troy Buzalsky said the intersection is a “major rural thoroughfare,” and accidents there are not uncommon. “If you run the stop sign, you’re just asking for a collision,” Buzalsky said.

We send wishes for healing to all 13 persons involved in this crash.

Why do people speed? To get somewhere quicker? Shaving a few minutes off your trip is not worth the risk of potentially harming or killing another innocent driver or passenger. For the thrill? The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Traffic Crash Summary reports that in 2008 alone, speed-related accidents killed 216 Oregonians. That number far exceeds the amount of drunk-driving fatalities! But, as always, law enforcement is in full effect, and the Oregon State Police are continually looking for ways to both protect the innocent and punish those who endanger lives. If caught, you could lose your license, receive an expensive ticket or go to jail.

The risk is too great—lives can be lost as well as licenses and the ability to operate your own vehicle. It’s not worth it.

The moments and days after a crash are the most important. First, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should have a record of anything after the accident in case the pains become more serious. Second, either you, a friend or family member, or a qualified attorney, should collect evidence from the accident scene. Evidence can disappear quickly, so doing this while your loved one is in the hospital is of extreme importance. We understand that you may not want to do this while you or your loved one is in the hospital, so you may want to ask a personal injury attorney to do it for you.

The months after an accident are important as well. There are time limits to filing a claim if you have been in an accident. And sometimes you can’t go back to work, so you start to worry about paying medical bills and wage loss. These are all stressful things, and it doesn’t help that the insurance company won’t leave you alone, but they won’t help you either. So please, do not hesitate to call our Portland personal injury lawyers or request a free copy of our book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. Our website has helpful advice, and what we don’t cover there, we will be more than happy to answer ourselves.