Update
This story was updated at 10:40 a.m. Jan. 1 with additional information.
A single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Highway 20 sent two people to the hospital, Philomath Fire and Rescue reported.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the crash at 12:26 p.m. in a stretch of the highway located just west of Springer Road roughly one mile west of Philomath.
“A single vehicle traveling eastbound on Highway 20 left the roadway, spun and ended up in a ditch facing the opposite direction,” Public Information Officer and Deputy Fire Chief Rich Saalsaa said.
Saalsaa said there were reportedly five people in the vehicle, which BCSO later reported was a 2001 Lexus RX3. The driver and a child passenger needed to be transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with non-life-threatening injuries.
Philomath Fire and Rescue’s response included an engine crew of four and an incident commander.
Following an investigation, BCSO reported that the driver, a 34-year-old Corvallis man, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and driving while suspended. The Philomath Police Department assisted with the investigation.
Highway 20 was closed for approximately 30 minutes during the incident, Saalsaa said.
Saalsaa said there were some issues during the response with vehicles turning around on the highway, which slowed the arrival of emergency vehicles.
“When there is a lane closure, emergency vehicles may have to use the oncoming lanes to reach the scene and have a hard time doing so with multiple vehicles turning around and then occupying that lane,” Saalsaa said. “We ask people to please stay in place until directed otherwise to prevent impeding the arrival of emergency vehicles.”