Eugene woman dies in head-on crash on Hwy 126
FLORENCE, Ore. -- A Eugene woman died in a head-on two-vehicle crash that blocked traffic for hours Saturday afternoon on Highway 126W near Mapleton, Oregon, State Police said.
A preliminary investigation revealed that at about 1:20 p.m. an SUV driven by Karlie Hobson, 32 of Eugene, crossed the center line on Hwy 126W and crashed head-on into a four door pickup hauling a trailer.
Hobson was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said that she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Investigators are still looking into what caused the woman to drift over the center lane and into oncoming traffic.
The three occupants of the pickup truck were transported to Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence for treatment and examination of minor injuries. Zachary Roe, Jacob Blankenbaker (both 21 from Vancouver, Washington) and Alexander Moreland, the 20-year-old Milwalkie man who was driving the truck were also wearing seat belts.
The Oregon Department of Transportation intermittently closed the highway for four hours after the crash so that crash investigators could carry out an investigation.
ODOT initially reported the highway as closed, but both lanes of the highway were reopened Saturday evening.
I drove by this accident on my way to Florence yesterday. We were stuck in traffic for about 40 minutes. Must have gotten there just in time to see only the cars there. It was a horrible, heartbreaking scene, my heart goes out to everyone involved in this accident. Honestly can't say why it happened, none of us can. There were no skid marks on the road. I think it just happened all too fast. Just be careful, be aware, and use your common sense. It's a windy, dangerous road.. pay attention to your surroundings.
karlie will be missed
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 Driver distraction is the number one cause of vehicle accidents,second is drunk driving...The phone cell ban has done absolutely no good in this state. People disregard it completely. If all good citizens were allowed to photograph those lawbreakers and bring a citizens arrest against the culprits,maybe it would finally sink in that its is against the law to use a cell phone in your vehicle.Stand on any corner of W 11th at any time of the day and watch just how many people are on the phone.
There are no skid marks visible in the photo. That reveals no reaction by the driver of the SUV. It would be nice to know the cause of this accident.
There are suicidal drivers but that is kind of hard to prove unless there is a lot of evidence to lead one to that conclusion. I agree with Postalone that distraction is one of the major causes of accidents these days, and speed is the killer. People seem to just disregard the cell phone law, I see several people using a cell phone everytime I get on the road. If there was a cell phone involved in this incident they should find out unless it was totally destroyed. I feel badly for the family and wish comfort for them in their time of need. Too many times one or  two seconds are all it takes to create such a tragedy.
all her family will miss are angel karlie hobsen deepley
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The suicide thing happened one time but these accidents are the cause of people not paying attention to the task at hand whether the distraction is cell phone, makeup,eating,talking to passengers,changing the radio station etc. You are driving a loaded weapon and inattention will be fatal.
I am seriously thinking that we are having more crossed the center line head on crashes lately.I wonder if this isnt a form of suicide,I with all my heart hope thats not the case
and seriously condolences to the families
@Iam1woody I think it is texting, and I hope they check that well. Suicides usually don't involve other people unless the suicidal person is really mentally ill. I covered lots of suicides and it was rare for the person to want to take someone with them at the time.
 @Iam1woody I agree: there have been so many of these in the past few weeks. Itâs almost like some sort of lemming thing.
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My sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those lost to accidents recently.
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And to those driving out there: PLEASE! Be careful and drive defensively. It only takes a split second of not paying attention, or being in too much of a hurry to kill or be killed. It only takes that much time to be aware and be patient and leave a bit earlier, and get there without incident.
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AND, if woody is right, and these are suicides: DONâT TAKE INNOCENT LIVES !!
Get help, because even though things might look, and even be, that bad, it CAN get better, especially if you talk to someone about it, and get some help to get you through this bad time.