Two accidents end in deaths

A man was killed after a high-speed chase on Highway 126 last Saturday night. According to Springfield Police Department Sergeant Pete Kirkpatrick, a patrol officer at a red light on 42nd Street and Main, observed a dark-colored Range Rover pass him eastbound on Main Street at 80 to 90 miles per hour just before 10:30 p.m. The officer tried to keep the Range Rover in sight and initiate a stop, but wasn’t able to due to extremely high speeds,

While officers were searching the area of Highway 126 and Thurston Road, a 911 caller reported a car had crashed in the 38000 block of the McKenzie Highway.

Officers arrived on the scene within seconds to find the same vehicle they had previously seen. They reported the driver of the vehicle had died.

Kirkpatrick said an investigation is currently underway. Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors.

The following night, Oregon State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision to assist the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. According to OSP reports, one vehicle was fully engulfed and the other was on its top when officers arrived on the scene around 9:30 p.m., near the intersection of Coburg Road and McKenzie View Drive.

The driver of the overturned vehicle was trapped inside and later pronounced deceased. Police said the passenger was able to exit with visible injuries. The driver of the other, fully engulfed vehicle fled the scene on foot but was later located several hours after the crash.

OSP completed a collision reconstruction. Videos of the suspect were obtained via in-car and a body camera prior to his leaving on foot. Police said a black Ford F150 involved in the crash was used to commit a crime. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150.