Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Oregon State Police. All crashes with fatalities may not be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation.
MONDAY, SEPT. 9
• 1:18 a.m. — Troopers responded to a vehicle-bicycle crash on Interstate 5 about 14 miles south of the Corvallis-Lebanon Highway exit that took the life of Ryan Lee Bird, 40, of Eugene. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Bird was riding a bicycle northbound in the slow lane of I-5 and was struck from behind by a semi-truck driven by a 39-year-old Portland man. Bird was declared deceased at the scene. The driver was not injured.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13
• 4:56 p.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 about 3 miles east of Pendleton that took the lives of Franklin Rufus Bevins, 42, and Ginger Elaine Bevins, 43, a married couple from Richlands, Virginia. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Franklin Bevins was headed east in a Peterbilt semi-truck on I-84 when it left the roadway for unknown reasons and damaged approximately 100 feet of guardrail before striking a concrete overpass railing and falling approximately 25 feet to the roadway below. Both of the truck’s occupants were declared deceased at the scene.
• Time NA — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 about 5 miles south of Dunes City that took the life of Margaret Ann Wells, 76, of Tonasket, Washington. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Ford F150 driven by a 26-year-old Coos Bay woman was headed south on Highway 101 and failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the road. The Ford traveled onto the southbound shoulder, overcorrected back onto the highway and entered the northbound lane where it struck a Toyota Tundra, driven by a 72-year-old Tonasket, Washington, man. The Ford’s driver was transported to an area hospital reportedly with serious injuries. The driver of the Toyota and two passengers — a 74-year-old Tonasket woman and a 79-year-old Tonasket man — all suffered serious injuries and were transported to the hospital. Wells was declared deceased at the hospital.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
• 9:32 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 214 at the intersection with Cascade Highway SE north of Sublimity that took the life of Phyllis Ilene Russo, 88, of Mountain View, California. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Buick Encore driven by a 55-year-old Mountain View, California, woman was headed south on Highway 214 and while going through the intersection was struck by an eastbound Chevrolet 3500 driven by an 18-year-old Salem man. The vehicles both spun off the roadway and into an adjacent field. Russo, a passenger in the Buick, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was declared deceased at the scene. The Buick’s driver, the Chevrolet’s driver and a 17-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Chevrolet reportedly suffered minor injuries and were transported to a hospital. Two other passengers in the Chevrolet, both 17-year-old Salem boys, were reportedly not injured.
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OTHER NEWS
• Sept. 10 —An Oregon State Police traffic stop on Interstate 5 about 2 miles south of Creswell yielded approximately 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of powdered fentanyl, the agency reported.
During the traffic stop, the trooper recognized signs of possible drug activity. An OSP K-9 team responded and upon a search of the vehicle’s exterior, alerted to the presence of possible illegal drugs. At that point in time, the driver fled on foot across all lanes of I-5 into a wooded area. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the fentanyl in the trunk.
Law enforcement searched for the suspect for several hours without success. It is believed that he possibly obtained a ride out of the area. Before fleeing, the driver presented a fraudulent Mexican consular card bearing the name Luis Angel Garcia Gonzalez, 28, of Oakland, California. It is unknown if that is the suspect’s actual name, OSP said.
Upon further investigation and assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, it was determined the fentanyl was destined for the Portland metro area. Due to the quantity, the fentanyl was turned over to the DEA.
• Sept. 15 — Oregon State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Linn County that occurred Sept. 14 near Scio, the agency reported.
Linn County Sheriff’s deputies responded at about 12:42 a.m. Sept. 14 to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a rural area of Scio. OSP located the suspect’s vehicle on Shimanek Bridge Drive off Richardson Gap Road. Upon arrival, troopers found the suspect armed and in the driver seat of the vehicle.
“While officers were in contact with the suspect, the suspect discharged his firearm,” OSP said. “The Linn County Regional SWAT Team, along with the Crisis Negotiation Team, were deployed to the scene. Officers spoke with the suspect on scene in an attempt to resolve the situation.”
During the standoff with officers, the SWAT Team approached the suspect, the OSP said.
“The suspect pointed a firearm at officers and was shot. The 46-year-old suspect, identified as David Tobias Tyler, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Involved in the shooting was Sgt. Daniel Ball, a Benton County Sheriff’s deputy. OSP will be conducting the primary investigation in conjunction with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.
The pedestrian was treated and released from the hospital. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Linn County Regional SWAT Team is a multi-agency unit consisting of personnel from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Albany Police Department and Sweet Home Police Department.