Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 126E east of Vida

The driver and his small dog crushed by shifting load.

Fatal log truck crash near Vida, Oregon Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(VIDA, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a fatal traffic crash this morning that resulted in the death of a Cottage Grove-area man on Highway 126 East about five miles east of Vida.

OSP Lieutenant Robert Edwards says around 10:45 a.m. a loaded commercial log truck driven by 49-year old Jimmy Ray Martin of Cottage Grove, was westbound on Highway 126 East near milepost 32.

While negotiating a slight curve, for unknown reasons Mr. Martin drove off the northbound shoulder of the highway and impacted a steep embankment.

Edwards says the crash caused the logs on the trailer to shift forward, impacting the truck's cab and fatally injuring Jimmy Martin and a small dog that was riding with him. Mr. Martin was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was not using safety restraints.

OSP troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation with the assistance of an OSP collision reconstructionist.

McKenzie Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. Northwest Haz Mat was called out to assist with minor fuel leak resulting from the crash.

Traffic was limited to one lane, with intermittent complete closures, for about three hours.

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It gives you an insight into who I am but, on reading the headline of this story, my first reaction is empathy for the little dog. I suppose because it is an innocent trusting party in the tragedy. Not that I don't care about the man who died. It's one of those tragic unexplained (so far) accidents.

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