Police: Drunk wrong-way driver hits oncoming car head-on
The driver of the Geo Metro suffered internal injuries and fractured legs, arm and pelvis. By KVAL.com staffNEWPORT, Ore. -- A man with fractured legs, arm and pelvis was taken to a Portland hospital by air ambulance Wednesday evening after an intoxicated wrongway driver with her headlights off crashed head-on into his car on Highway 101, according to police. The wrongway driver was not injured, police said. Officers responded to the crash scene at 5:24 p.m. Wednesday on Hwy 101 in the South Beach area of Newport, Ore. Upon arrival, officers found two vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic. Both vehicles had significant front-end damage.
Investigators believe Diana Bunch, 24, of Newport, Ore., was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry north in the southbound lane of travel without her headlights on when she collided head-on with a 1995 Geo Metro driven by Kasey Deckard, 36, of Waldport, Ore. Deckard was trapped in his vehicle and had to be pulled from the wreckage by Newport Fire and Rescue. He was taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport with major internal injuries and fractured legs, arm, and pelvis. He was later transported by Life Flight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. He is listed in critical condition. Bunch was not injured. During the investigation, officers said they noticed Bunch displayed signs of impairment. Officers arrested her on suspicion of DUII, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Assault II. Her bail was set at $295,000. The highway was closed for approximately two and one-half hours. Newport Police were assisted at the scene by the Newport Fire Department, Pac West Ambulance, and the Lincoln County Major Crash Team (comprised of members from the Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo Police Department, Lincoln City Police Department, Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, and Oregon State Police). The ODOT Incident Command assisted by providing traffic control. |
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