Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. All calls for service may not be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. Individuals are identified in the log only if arrested on felony charges. Juveniles are not identified. People arrested or suspected of crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
• 5:57 p.m. — BCSO responded to reports of a reckless driver, later identified as a 22-year-old Eugene man, heading east on Highway 20 near the Benton County-Lincoln County border west of Blodgett. The driver allegedly had been attempting to keep other vehicles from passing him, which resulted in several near-crashes. The case was sent to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office for review.
SUNDAY, JAN. 19
• 6:51 a.m. — BCSO responded to a one-vehicle crash in the area of Hoskins Road and Alexander Road involving a 2020 Ram pickup that had gone over an embankment and into a small creek. The driver, a 37-year-old Blodgett man, reported that he had crashed the pickup while returning home from work the previous evening after hitting some ice and was working on arranging for a tow. The truck had significant damage to the front corner and undercarriage of the truck and the driver was informed of a requirement to fill out a crash report with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
MONDAY, JAN. 20
• 2:12 p.m. — BCSO responded to a one-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 34 about 3 miles northeast of Alsea. The driver, a 54-year-old Alsea man, reported no injuries. He told the deputy that he was waiting for a friend to flip over his pickup, a 1992 Toyota, back onto its wheels.
• 11:45 p.m. — BCSO responded to a report of a stolen 1994 Ford F-150 from the park-and-ride area near the Highway 20 and Kings Valley Highway intersection. The owner, a 24-year-old Silverton man, discovered that the vehicle was missing at the late hour and checked with anyone who may have borrowed it. A stolen vehicle report was later completed.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22
• 1:15 p.m. — BCSO arrested a 35-year-old Philomath woman in the back parking lot of a gas station on several Linn County Circuit Court warrants for failure to appear and transported to Linn County Jail. The woman was also issued a criminal citation on a Lebanon Municipal Court warrant.
• 5:19 p.m. — BCSO responded to a report of a one-vehicle rollover crash into a creek off Maxfield Creek Road about 4 miles east of its intersection with Kings Valley Highway. Upon arrival, nobody was found with the vehicle and the driver, a 31-year-old man, was later tracked down by police in Monmouth. The driver had gotten a ride home and had plans to go to an urgent care facility. See separate story.
THURSDAY, JAN. 23
• 7:38 a.m. — BCSO responded to a one-vehicle rollover crash on Grange Hall Road about 700 feet east of Highway 34. A 16-year-old girl self-extricated and reportedly had no injuries. According to the report, the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating an icy curve and hit a bridge’s metal barrier on the south side of the road. The vehicle rolled onto the side and came to rest in the eastbound lane of travel. See separate story.
SUNDAY, JAN. 26
• 11 a.m. — BCSO arrested a 52-year-old Philomath man on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants (alcohol .20 or above) on Alexander Road near Hoskins Road. Another motorist had earlier reported the vehicle, a 1990 Toyota pickup, as failing to maintain its lane. Upon arrival, the driver started to drive off after the BCSO deputy initiated his overhead lights but ultimately pulled over. He was issued a criminal citation in lieu of custody and released to his father.
TUESDAY, JAN. 28
• 5:17 p.m. — BCSO responded to a two-vehicle crash on Decker Road involving a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old Junction City man that lost control while going uphill on ice, crossed the center lane and collided with a second vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle that was hit, a 69-year-old Philomath man and 65-year-old Philomath woman, were transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.