Astoria, OR — A 95-year-old man was rescued from his vehicle after a two-vehicle crash on Echo Hollow Road in the Bethel area on Monday afternoon. Emergency responders were called to the scene at approximately 3:10 p.m. on December 9, following reports of a collision that had blocked traffic at the intersection of Echo Hollow Road and Marshall Avenue.
According to the Eugene Police Department, the crash involved a grey Kia Sonata and a Mazda 3. Officers arriving at the scene found the Kia Sonata off the roadway, with the vehicle partially occupying the sidewalk and facing northbound. The car had come to a stop in the shrubs along the west side of Echo Hollow Road. The elderly driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was trapped inside.
Eugene Springfield Fire personnel immediately began working to extricate the man. Due to the severity of the damage to the car, firefighters had to remove the vehicle’s roof to safely free the driver. Once extricated, the man was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His current condition is not known.
The driver of the second vehicle, a 20-year-old man behind the wheel of a Mazda 3, was uninjured in the crash. However, Eugene police cited him for driving without insurance. At this time, the cause of the crash is under investigation by authorities.
The collision created significant traffic disruptions in the area as police worked to clear the scene. Echo Hollow Road was briefly closed while emergency responders managed the situation.
Eugene Police Department officials are continuing to investigate the incident. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
This crash highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding uninsured drivers on local roads and the potential risks they pose to other motorists and pedestrians. Authorities have urged drivers to ensure they are adequately insured when operating vehicles on public roads.
