Woman killed, police officer hurt in head-on crash
OAKRIDGE, Ore. -- A city police officer with lights and siren on pursuing a speeder was critically injured when another driver pulled into the path of his patrol car. The 91-year-old woman behind the wheel of the other car was killed in the head-on crash Monday afternoon.
Oregon State Police troopers are investigating the fatal traffic crash involving an Oakridge police officer and an adult female motorist at the intersection of Highway 58 and Crestview Street in Oakridge, Ore.
A press release from the OSP says a 91-year-old woman attempted to turn left onto Crestview Street and drove into the path of a police car driven by 27-year-old Daniel Miller. Miller was attempting to overtake a speed violator with his sirens and police lights on when the crash occured around 4 p.m.
The victim, Virginia Spalinger, was pronounced dead at Sacred Heart Hospital and police notified next of kin.
Miller, 27, was critically injured. His condition in the hospital was upgraded from critical to stable on Tuesday, according to state police.
Miller has been a member of the Oakridge Police Department for 13 months. He was a reserve officer with the department for 7 months before being hired full-time.
Anyone witnesses who have not been interviewed by OSP investigators is asked to contact OSP Senior Trooper Dusty Sprague at (541) 782-4374.
Photos of the crash
YouNews reporter shyboy21 posted photographs of the wreck on KVAL.com.
YouNews reporter tbell541 posted photos from another perspective.
Oregon State Police made these photos of the wreck available to the media:
