Witnesses told local media outlets that a recent two-car Oregon car crash near Newberg appeared to be the result of teenagers street racing, according to KATU. The Oregon car accident reportedly closed Route 99W in Newberg “for hours” as police first struggled to save the victims and, later, worked to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
Police would not confirm to either KATU or The Oregonian that street racing led to the accident, but the television station reported that witnesses said they believed that was what the drivers were doing in the moments before the crash. The victims were the 18-year-old driver of one vehicle, who died at the scene, and a 15-year-old passenger in the same car, who succumbed a short time after being taken to an area hospital by helicopter.
A police statement said the 18-year-old was driving his car “too fast” (at least 50 mph in a 25 mph zone) as he headed south on 99W when he lost control of the vehicle while attempting to negotiate a right curve. The teen’s car crossed the median and hit a minivan driven by an elderly couple, both of whom were later taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
This terrible Oregon car crash is a reminder of the importance of safe and controlled driving, particularly where relatively inexperienced teen drivers are concerned. Survivors of this sort of Oregon fatal car accident, or their loved ones, should immediately contact an Oregon personal injury lawyer with specialized knowledge of Portland and Newberg car crashes for help in assessing their legal position. Justice, in the wake of a fatal car accident, is about more than car insurance and hospital bills. An Oregon car accident lawyer can help you sort through the complexities of the law and advise you on the best way forward.
The Oregonian: Newberg-Dundee PD identifies two people who died Monday in crash on 99W
KATU.com: Was it street racing that killed two Newberg-area teens?