Two drivers hurt in same-day crashes at same milepost


Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 16 comment(s)

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The Oregon State Police reported two injury accidents at milepost 6.5 on state Highway 42 on Monday.

At about 2:55 p.m., a 1999 Ford Taurus driven by LaDonna Brown, 73, of Myrtle Point, rolled over at milepost 6.5 on state Highway 42. According to an OSP press release, Brown was traveling east on Highway 42 when she reached down to answer her ringing cell phone. The car veered off the right side of the highway and ran onto the dirt embankment, rolled over and came to rest on the driver’s side.

Paramedics took Brown to Coquille Valley Hospital, where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

No citations were issued.

Less than two hours later another car crashed at milepost 6.5. It was 4:16 p.m., when Nevin Ellenberger, 60, of Coquille, stopped his car as he came up to a fallen tree that was blocking Highway 42’s eastbound lane. A car driven by Carolyn Price, 59, of Myrtle Point, who had been traveling east collided with the rear of Ellenberger’s car.

Ellenberger was taken to Coquille Valley Hospital, where he was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Police arrested Price on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless endangering. The also cited her with following too closely and improper wearing of a safety belt. She was taken to Coos County jail, where she was released on her own recognizance, according to a jail spokesman.

The Highway 42 eastbound lane was closed for about a half an hour while a highway crew removed the tree and cleared the road, Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Jared Castle, said.
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Rachel wrote on Aug 6, 2008 8:26 PM:

I just took and online traffic school for speeding...
DID YOU KNOW......
THAT THE NUMBER ONE ACCIDENT CAUSE IS NOT CELL PHONE..... NOR IS IT IN THE TOP 5.....
THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IS.........RUBBERNECKING.

so people quit paying attention to the cell phone driver ahead of you more than likely you will be causing the accidents.... :)

I really don't think you should do anything but be driving while driving just thought you all like to know that little fact...

Chucker wrote on Aug 6, 2008 8:18 PM:

Bring back the CB!

:)

RESIDENT wrote on Aug 6, 2008 4:14 PM:

DEAR DRIVER,
FIRST OFF, WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? YOUR GRAMMAR IS POOR AND MAYBE BEFORE YOU START FLAPPING YOUR GUMS YOU SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR OWN DRIVING!

AND COOKIE, YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE DRIVERS THAT YOU DESCRIBED MAYBE NOT ON YOUR PHONE BUT IN THE WAY!

Cookie wrote on Aug 4, 2008 8:36 PM:

To cell phone drivefr: I hate sharing the road with people like you. I know your type. You are so absorbed in yourself and you stupid life drama that you don't notice others are having a problem with your driving. You are the one who cuts everyone off, slows down to almost a stop to make a turn, swerves into another lane when you answer your phone. If you choose a behavior that risks your own life it is your business as long as you cause no harm to others. When you are assert you have the right to risk my life, I think I might have some thing to say about it. HANG UP THE PHONE WHILE YOU DRIVE!!!!

NOT THE PHONEs FAULT wrote on Aug 4, 2008 5:35 PM:

If you make cell phone use illegal while driving, consider you should also make the following illegal:

1) Adjusting the stereo
2) Eating - drive through food would go bye bye
3) coffee or soda while driving

People: IT's not the phone, it's the idiot using it.

MP Resident wrote on Aug 4, 2008 2:41 PM:

Let's just make it illegal to drive and use or cell phones, just like they in California. "HERE'S YOUR SIGN"

ATR wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:36 AM:

Not surpised by this in the slightest. My car was totaled on Newmark in 2006 by a man who jumped out and kept saying he was so sorry because he was answering his cell phone and took his eyes off the road (at least he was honest). If you can't answer the phone AND keep your eyes on the road then don't bother answering it! Oh and in my accident, the cops where there when he admitted he was answering his phone instead of driving properly and he WAS NOT cited as well. I don't get it.

fishslayer wrote on Aug 4, 2008 9:17 AM:

this ones for L.C. comment about trees
this is clearly a problem that these trees were either cut wrong or the weak were not cut out. i lost my relative in this spot and still feel there was some sort of neglect or error in the tree crews actions along the stretch of 42 what the heck another trees fallen in the same spot and blocked to hwy. i would like to have seen the tree that killed my cousin because i think it was weakened or trimmed wrong. but it was gone. now another one falls. something is not right. has anyone looked into the trees along this patch for answers?

Hang Up And Drive wrote on Aug 3, 2008 8:32 PM:

To the self-admitted, road endangering cell phone yacker: None of the things you mention should be legal while driving. That's what turnoff's and parking spots are for. Cell phone use included. Your comment about people not being able to afford cell phones being the reason for their concern is as dated as it is ridiculous. Seriously, grow up.

I'm with Driver...There needs to be laws against this kind of reckless endangerment.

LC wrote on Aug 1, 2008 12:52 PM:

How many more accidents and DEATHS are there going to be around milepost 6.5 on Hwy 42 before the State takes responsibility and starts clearing the bad trees that are falling onto people and their cars!!!! (This ones for you Kristi-we miss you).

gayshagirl wrote on Aug 1, 2008 9:58 AM:

The things that make you go HMMMMMM?!!
remember back in the day when there were no cell phones?? What is a person to do, heaven forbid they should miss a call on the celly??? It seems to me that folks feel and think that "other drivers" who obey the cell phone law are inferior to the law. We'll see how those people feel, God forbid, but, if they ever end up in the same situation. Really the cell phone can wait, thats why there's VOICE MAIL!!!!!! AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DONE IT FOR "TEN OR MORE YEARS" ARE JUST RUDE, YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT BUT ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT ACTUALLY CAUSE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE YOUR SO INVOLVED IN YOUR CELL PHONE CONVERSATIONS. GET REAL!!!

cell phone drivefr wrote on Aug 1, 2008 7:51 AM:

I talk on the cell phone while I drive. The people complaining about it either can't afford cell phones or know they can't handle driving and talking. I've been doing it ten years and haven't had a problem. Let's see, they want to make it illegal to talk and drive, yet it's still legal to read a book, eat lunch, put on your makeup and discipline your kids at the same time

Unknown wrote on Jul 31, 2008 6:12 PM:

There are plenty of places to pull over to answer the ringing cell phone. Even on highway 42. And if she couldn't find one, she could have called that person back when she did find one. She should have been cited for reckless endangering (everyone on the road at that time) and failure to pay attention, failure to maintain travel lane, etc. It happens every day that people are cited for "accidents" and not paying attention.

CB lifer wrote on Jul 31, 2008 3:09 PM:

Dear "Driver", Not all persons with cell phones drive like this one. Granted, there are a lot of them. However, I make sure that if mine rings while I am driving, it is where I can reach it without looking down or away. I also concentrate on the road, because you have to drive defensively at ALL times. People who call me know that they are not the priority if I am driving. They also know that I really don't like talking on the phone, so please do not group all driving cell phone users together. Thank you

Sasha wrote on Jul 31, 2008 2:12 PM:

Brown was traveling east on Highway 42 when she reached down to answer her ringing cell phone. Stay off the cell phone while driving!!!!!
Did you learn anything from this Ms. Brown???? Probably not.

driver wrote on Jul 31, 2008 1:45 PM:

why was the girl who HAD to answer her phone NOT cited?! She could have injured someone else - are their any laws on this? should be - Washington has gotten smart and decided to make it illegal - when is Oregon going to get on track and help save us drivers who have to deal with these idiots who talk on their phone and slow down and block traffic because they are unaware of how they are driving because they are too busy flapping their gums talking on the phone.

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