Police: Eugene man killed in fiery head-on crash
EDDYVILLE, Ore. - A Eugene man pulled out to pass in a no-passing one Friday and collided head-on with a commercial truck Friday on Highway 20 east of Eddyville, Oregon State Police said.
The driver of the truck escaped as his rig went up in flames.
The other driver died at the scene.
According to Sergeant Cari Boyd, Charlie W. Kuhry, 26, of Eugene was driving eastbound on Highway 20 in a 1993 Honda Civic when he tried passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone near milepost 29.
Kuhry pulled into the westbound lane in front of a commercial truck pulling a fully loaded chip trailer.
The truck driver, Ronald Ford of Eugene, couldn't avoid the car and the vehicles crashed head-on.
Kuhry was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ford, 49, escaped his truck as it went up in flames. It was later totaled because of the fire.
Ford was later evaluated by a doctor. Crash investigators determined that both men were wearing seat belts.
The wreckage partially blocked the road, which closed Hwy 20 between Eddyville and Blodgett for several hours.
Pleasebesmart. You are right, BUT, crossing over a DOUBLE YELLOW line JUST to pass ONE vehicle in front of yourself is ONE of the dumbest things ANY of us can do. I did NOT say he deserved to die. I simply POINTED OUT that ALL drivers know the purpose of a single SOLID or DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINE means. I am sure YOU are aware that these are on the roads to TELL ALL of us that it is not safe to pass in these areas because NONE OF US HAVE the kind of VISION it takes to see an ON COMING vehicle in these areas.Â
RIP TO THE YOUNG MAN WHETHER IT BE HIS FAULT OR NOT..... Â SORRY IT HAD TO HAPPEN. Â NOW MAY WE ALL LEARN FROM HIS WRONG DOINGS....
This is precisely the reason to get rid of all the radar guns, and get back on patrol. Numerous studies have shown that if a person sees a police car that image will remain with them for approximately 7 miles. So if someone passes a radar unit, seven or so miles later it is pedal to the metal. Police officers need to be retrained in patrol technique. A police officer should not just go in a straight line from one end of his area to the other, he or she should reverse direction frequently, thus exposing themselves to more drivers. Hiding or sitting with radar literally is only effective for a short time. A police officer should know every public stop in his or her area, and meet the people at the public stop, educating them as to what to look for and call in if need be. Service station operators used to be, and maybe still are some of the very best informants there are, if they are told what to look for. The other factor is what seems to be a total disregard for our traffic laws. Speeding is practiced by about 75 percent of the drivers on the road, Disregard for lane assignments, no passing zones, traffic control signals is an epidemic. I understand the feeling of someone wanting to get somewhere faster, but consider, when you speed you are more tense, you know you risk a citation, you put yourself in more danger should something occur, ie animal, pedestrian, bicycle, blow out, brake failure, etc etc., and the bottom line is you will get to your destination only a minute or two faster, and maybe you won't get there at all. Try to be considerate, obey the law, relax, it is an amazing feeling. If you have a need for speed, get a race car and go to a track. Also think of the liquid gold you will save.
 @souptonuts That's a good idea Mr souptonuts, but unless we can increase the funding of our law enforcement budgets here in Lane County, there aren't enough Police to go around to do patrols the way you suggested.
@Mister X Ooh LaLa The problem of funding law enforcement and other services is largely due to the cost of PERS, and other benefits. If the county employees would pay 1/2 of their own retirement, they would have been able to retain most if not all of law enforcement. The public employee unions continue to refuse to renegotiate the "Pickup". Eventually our county and many others will be just like what is happening across the nation now. Cities are going bankrupt, (San Bernadino, Calf.) Scranton, PA) and the list goes on. Even the State Treasurer agrees PERS is in trouble, but as long as the Governor, Legislature, and Judges are part of it, there can be no change. It is corruption at it's finest.
Late to this party, but so what....
I drive everyday for my job, and let me tell you, that double yellow  (no passing) zone means absolutely NOTHING to most drivers!!!! I donât mind if they want to get killed by their stupidity, being late to anything, or just plain âwant to drive faster than youâ attitude, but I DO mind if they take me or someone else with them!
Double Yellow lines means NO PASSING. PERIOD. Solid Yellow in YOUR lane means YOU canât pass. Oh, how I wish that LEOâs would start being around when drivers do this, and actually earn their road pay. Speeders do occasionally endanger others, but this kind of law-breaking is not only annoying to the max, but hereâs proof that it does kill.
 @angelgabe Not only do I agree with angelgabe's comments, but can anyone imagine the TRAUMA the truck driver now is mentally living with after such this HORRIFIC accident?
We need to make it MUCH more strict to hand out driver's licenses. Â Motorists should know that they don't always have the right of way. Â Sometimes other cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians have priority. Â Tough. Â You're driving a ton of metal with depleting fossil fuels, it's a tremendous privilege that your ancestors didn't have and your grandkids probably won't have again.
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Anyone caught texting while driving should lose their license. Â Period.
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When the permanent gas lines start (it doesn't matter whether its under Obama or Romney - we're passing Peak Oil), look for the speed limits to roll back to 55 mph / 90 kph again. Â Nixon had to do this when there was an interruption of Middle East oil. Â This time it will be permanent, imposed by the fact we cannot extract it faster. Â There's only so much in the ground. Â Sorry.
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If we went back to 55 that would reduce oil consumption more than what still flows through the Alaska Pipeline, so it's clear we're not serious about conservation.
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I guess the driver who killed himself qualifies for a Darwin Award, it's unfortunate that he injured someone else with his stupidity. Â
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Wendell Berry said that a machine is a tool to amplify your ignorance. Â Here's a great example of that.Â
 @sustaineugenedotorg Perhaps not the best time to go on a sanctimonious spiel. =/ The guy made a mistake and now he's dead... try to have some respect.
 @PleaseBeSmart He did not make a mistake...he knew the double was there but made the selfish choice to do it anyways...that is not a mistake! Sorry his choice costed him his life!
 @silly97405 I absolutely agree with you.
 @PleaseBeSmart  You are right, BUT, crossing over a DOUBLE YELLOW line JUST to pass ONE vehicle in front of yourself is ONE of the dumbest things ANY of us can do. I did NOT say he deserved to die. I simply POINTED OUT that ALL drivers know the purpose of a single SOLID or DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINE means. I am sure YOU are aware that these are on the roads to TELL ALL of us that it is not safe to pass in these areas because NONE OF US HAVE the kind of VISION it takes to see an ON COMING vehicle in these areas.Â
 @silly97405 Right, but even I'm not cruel enough to think death is a suiting result of idiocy. We all do dumb things sometimes. Most anyone who has been driving long enough can think of things they did by accident or mistakes they shouldn't have made.
 @PleaseBeSmart  @UsaidWHAT I am sorry this accident happened. But sad to say the car driver whether he realized it or not, he put himself and potentially his passenger on a suicide ride. Everyone knows the double yellow line means do not cross for your own safety. ANYONE who defies this is an idiot.Â
 @UsaidWHAT Mistake is not synonymous with accident. It is "an error in action, calculation, opinion or judgement caused by poor reasoning, carlessness, insufficient knowledge, etc." or, more simply put... "an action or judgement that is misguided or wrong."Â
 @sustaineugenedotorg Sorry there is plenty of oil left on this planet. My great grand kids will be using fossil fuels also. Driving 55 mph is not the answer. Drilling and telling the greenies to F-off is the answer.
 @givupongod The OP never said anything about there not being plenty of oil on the planet. They said we're passing Peak. The US peaked in the 70s. Most oil-producing countries have already peaked as well. For those who have peaked, the % off -peak is pretty much growing, and for those who have not yet peaked... even the estimates for their supply isn't pretty. But like I said, it's not about ALL the oil on the planet, because quite frankly we can't get to all of it. It's about the Net Energy Gain we can receive from obtaining oil... petroleum contains approximately 45 MJ per kg, so we need to expend less than that in acquiring the petroleum for it to be fruitful. The issue is we've already plucked all of the low hanging fruit, so to speak, so the NEG is constantly going down. We do get little bumps in efficiency here and there; advancements in technology that allow us to get to the oil and extract it without spending as much energy, but that's not even close to being enough to keep up with the plummeting NEG. We're now having to rely on oil that we wouldn't have even dreamed of as being a viable option. And while the NEG falls, the global demand for oil is skyrocketing. And the NEG doesn't have to reach a negative for it to me massively bad for humanity... we're already feeling the effects and we will continue to do so until oil is prohibitively expensive. And quite honestly, when that happen... not being able to drive your car is really going to be the least of your worries. I am truly sorry to say, but you're living in a fantasy if you think drilling and telling the "greenies" to f-off is the answer. This isn't about global warming, it's just about what we have left. You're right about one thing though... your great grand kids will be using fossil fuels because there is still plenty of coal left. Unfortunately, coal is an absurdly dirty and toxic substance to burn and I really don't want to see the day where 7 billion people have to fall back on coal. Btw, I'm not liberal and I don't think people are the driving force behind changes to our climate. I just know what the facts are about oil, and what that realistically means.Â
Wow, just to much ignorance and stupidity to even comment on your rant. You do know that the oil companies have shut down hundreds of plants to boost there profit and as with every part of life people will make foolish choices on the road and you commenting.
@sustaineugenedotorg Whoa... watchout , paid liberal shill.
Idk why everything is saying the kid was passing on a double yellow. I work at the company and I was told that the kid pulled out of a side road or driveway and didn't stop.
 @A driver " A Eugene man pulled out to pass in a no-passing one Friday and collided head-on with a commercial truck"....
Too many drivers have no respect for the double yellow. I see it everyday. More deaths are bound to happen. We need drivers education back in school.
Driver education is not the problem, more like increases in the number of drivers and roadways and enforcement are outdated and lacking
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I just got back from driving the 20 out to Idaho and was probably passed 15 times by crazy drivers wanting to drive a REAL speed limit like in all other states exept Oregon. Yep 55 is killing people, It should be 65 and this probably wouldnt have happened. Liberal nanny state bs low speed limits kill again...
 @Ol'Ironhead either you do not drive much or one of those that can politicize a booger. Oregon roads are just that Oregon roads.  They come with blind hills and sharp corners.  Not all are marked. Hwy 58 is great example.  When one drives 55-60 on hwy 58 it is a safe road.  Smart folks plainly get stupid when they get behind the wheel.  If 65 was the speed limit on 2 lane roads in Oregon body bags would be on back order.
 @drinkmorewater It was 80mph where I used to live in Texas and its 80 in Utah... but yeah, it's also flat, straight, and void of trees. For most places in Oregon, a higher speed limit just isn't safe. The speed limit on I-5 is silly though. There's no need for it to be that low.
 @PleaseBeSmart  @drinkmorewater Have you ever drove past Albany between 3pm and 5pm during Monday through Friday? WOW ! ! Traffic comes to pretty close to a STOP on I-5 for the drivers merging ONTO I-5. Faster speeds here would be LOTS more accidents. One life lost due to speeding and "being in a hurry" is ONE TOO many lives lost. Plan you trip smartly.
@drinkmorekoolaid @Ol'Ironhead , I am sorry that you cannot handle yourself behind the wheel...
 @Ol'Ironhead  @drinkmorekoolaid I can more than handle myself behind the wheel. Thank you.  The flatlanders, new drivers, arrogant drivers, did I say arrogant ironhead. I drive 126,  58, 38 all the time.  Tailgating  in a hurry pinheads cause a lot of wrecks.
I know 2 people who work with the truck driver. Is he OK?
Photo of the accident scene:
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http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/291374_430536876985702_301810120_o.jpg
 @Pete Schmitt WOW!!!
 @Pete Schmitt These are my pictures from the accident:  http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/291374_430536876985702_301810120_o.jpg
 @Kay Ashworth Martin does anyone know if the truck driver survived?
 @Kay Ashworth Martin The same for you. Drivers crossing illegally could happen to ANYONE of US.
 @silly97405 You are welcome!  And safe travels for your daughter!
 @Kay Ashworth Martin Thank you for your info as a somewhat witness. I am going to share your info with my daughter and her boyfriend. They both know the truck driver. They knew the accident was not his fault knowing the kind of driver he is. Thank YOU for your details.
 @silly97405 Thank you for the report.  Just as I suspected, passing where it wasn't even allowed. Â
 @Kay Ashworth Martin News Release from: Oregon State PoliceFATAL TRAFFIC CRASH - HIGHWAY 20 EAST OF EDDYVILLE (PHOTO)Posted: August 10th, 2012 7:59 PMPhoto/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-08/1002/56710/081012.fatal.hwy20mp29.1.JPGOne person died and a second person escaped his burning vehicle with minor injuries following a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 20 east of Eddyville. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers from the Newport Area Command office are continuing the investigation. The victim's name is withheld pending next of kin notification.According to Sergeant Cari Boyd, on August 10, 2012 at approximately 2:10 p.m. a passenger car driven by an adult male was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 29 when it attempted to pass another vehicle in a no passing zone. A commercial truck pulling a loaded chip trailer driven by RONALD R. FORD, age 49, from Eugene, was westbound when the car came into his lane of travel. FORD couldn't avoid the car and both collided head-on.The car's driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.FORD escaped his truck as it became engulfed in flames and later totaled because of the fire. FORD had minor injuries and wasn't taken to a hospital from the scene but later was going to be examined by a doctor.Both were using safety restraints.The scene extended approximately a half mile causing the highway to be closed several hours during the incident response and investigation.OSP was assisted at the scene by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County District Attorney's Office, Lincoln County Medical Examiner, Toledo Fire Department and ODOT.Photograph - Oregon State Police
 @silly97405 I've been searching for information since I got home (3 hours later from the detour).  I'm guessing someone was passing on that stretch (there are double lines so shouldn't have been) but I got there less than a minute after it happened.  Cars were in a hurry and passing in just about any straight stretch.  Until I saw the other picture I didn't know how bad the car looked.  It was past my field of vision and I wasn't going to get closer.  The fire was intense and had flames about 30 feet tall.  It was already dying down when I took the picture.  I had to double back to Newport, go down to Waldport then back over to Philomath.  About 60 extra miles.Â
My daughter is a truck driver too, seeing the truck REALLY scares me for her and other truck drivers out there. Can this be made a PRIORITY News story to get drivers to be more cautious with their driving? MY GOSH, there was more left of the car than the truck tractor.Â
 @Breanna Nicole Thompson  @silly97405 I just received a news release from the OSP. Thank you. @KayÂ
@silly97405 @Kay Ashworth Martin The driver has some minor injuries but is ok
 @silly97405 I don't know.  It looks like my link was the link to the other picture.  There was someone in the back of a pickup that was being cared for by a nurse on the scene I believe.  I didn't stay until the emergency responders got there.  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3654245563929.133546.1508271228&type=3