HERMISTON (AP) - Oversteering, a common reaction to losing control of a vehicle, is being blamed for a good portion of traffic accidents in Oregon, officials say.

Last year, 493 crashes were blamed on oversteering, also called overcorrecting, according to a report from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.

More than 400 people were injured and 30 were killed in those crashes, the DMV report said.

A rollover accident on Highway 395 between Hermiston and Stanfield on Tuesday was blamed on oversteering, police said.

"He drove off the roadway then tried to come back on the pavement and overcorrected," said Oregon State Police Trooper Sterling Hall.

The driver was able to crawl out from beneath his overturned sport utility vehicle with only minor cuts and bruises, but the accident blocked the highway and could have been a much more serious if the truck had crossed into the oncoming lanes, police said.

Hall said drivers who drift off the road should take their foot off the gas, brake gently and get the car under control before trying to pull back on the highway.

"The majority of crashes we cover on the interstate are people not paying attention," Hall said. "They feel a jolt and when they wake up they panic."

Hermiston Fire Chief Jim Stearns said it is the same problem on other roads.

"That's probably the most common thing we see on the highway," Stearns said of rollovers caused by overcorrecting.

Trying to avoid one potential accident can lead you right into another, said Lt. Gary Miller of the Oregon State Police.

Miller said it is better to drive into a field or damage a fence than to risk flipping over or hurting other motorists by trying to get back on to the road immediately.

"Don't jerk the wheel, let off the gas easily and come to a stop," added Hall.