OSP Continuing Fatal Crash Investigation On Highway 58 – Lane County

Photo Courtesy of Oregon State Police

On June 1, 2016 at about 12:05AM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a passenger car versus a semi-truck on Highway 58 near milepost 42 (east of Oakridge). Initial reports were the pickup was on fire.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 1997 Ford F150 was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane on Highway 58 when it collided head-on with a 2007 Kenworth truck tractor towing a box trailer. After impact the Ford became engulfed in flames and the truck drove off the highway into the ditch. Fire personnel arrived on scene and extinguished the fire, finding the driver deceased inside. The driver of the Kenworth, Ivan SLAVNIK, age 34, of Portland was not injured.

Highway 58 was closed for approximately an hour and a half before one lane was opened for traffic. The name of deceased will be released after family has been notified. More information will be released when it becomes available.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those involved in this accident. This was a terrible accident, and we hope everyone involved in the crash knows that there are thinking of their families and the life lost.

One of the most difficult parts of an accident like this is the fact that there will be immediate bills that will need to be taken care of in a timely manner. The period after an accident like this can be a very confusing and challenging time especially when friends and family may be involved. We feel fortunate to be able to provide victims of these types of accidents with resources that help navigate these challenging and trying times. We hope these resources help answer some of the difficult questions you have after an accident and how mounting medical bills or a wrongful death can be addressed.

This is a sensitive time for all those involved but it is important to remember that the lives of those left behind must be protected to the fullest extent of the law.

Oregon wrongful death claims are allowed under ORS 30.020, but the law is much more complicated than a normal accident case. First of all, the statute of limitations (SOL)(time limit on filing a claim) is different. For most car accidents, the SOL is two years, but for wrongful death, the SOL is “three years after the injury causing the death . . . is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. . . .”

Additionally, there are limits on who can bring a wrongful death claim. The most common claimants are:

• Spouses
• Children (including stepchildren)
• Parents (including stepparents)

Less common claimants include:

• Grandchildren
• Siblings
• Grandparents

In a wrongful death case, you can ask for compensation for several types of damages such as:

• Charges for medical services;
• Charges for burial and memorial services;
• Compensation that the decedent would have been entitled to for disability, pain and suffering, and loss of income during the period between injury and death;
• Compensation for “pecuniary loss” to the decedent’s estate;
• Compensation for the loss of the decedent’s “society, companionship and services” to the decedent’s spouse, children, stepchildren, stepparents, and parents;

Punitive damages are allowed as well, but are rare in Oregon since the State takes 70% of punitive damages awarded. If you have lost a loved one, call a Portland wrongful death attorney for help in securing the compensation you deserve.