Man killed in semi wreck

MCKENZIE BRIDGE: A wreck on Hwy. 126 last Friday night took the life of a McKenzie Bridge man. According to the Oregon State Police (OSP) the 2-vehicle accident on Friday, September 30th, occurred at approximately 6 p.m. Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the scene near milepost 50 of the McKenzie Hwy.

OSP's preliminary investigation showed an eastbound blue Nissan Versa, operated by Vanessa East, 45, of McKenzie Bridge, was stopped with its turn signals and brake lights activated while waiting to turn left into a residential driveway. An eastbound Freightliner semi with a trailer, operated by Joseph Garcia, 62, of Junction City, rear-ended the Nissan.

The front passenger in the Nissan, Shaney Howard, 52, of McKenzie Bridge, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. East was transported with injuries to RiverBend hospital. A 12-year-old male passenger in the rear seat of the car was airlifted to the hospital. Garcia, the operator of the semi, was uninjured.

The accident caused that area of the highway to be closed for approximately 6 hours while the OSP Reconstruction Collision Unit investigated the evidence. A detour around the crash scene sent traffic along Taylor Road.

State Police were assisted by the Upper McKenzie and McKenzie Fire departments, the Lane County Sheriff's Office, the Coburg Police Department, and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation.

A GoFundMe account has been established to help support the local family. To make a contribution, go to: tinyurl.com/mr494bdb.