On December 23, Eugene Police received a call at 9:28 p.m. regarding a possibly impaired driver. The caller gave the vehicle description and a plate, as EPD officers responded to the area of 10th Place in West Eugene. Eight minutes later, EPD received another call describing a single vehicle with one occupant that had crashed into the U.S. Federal Courthouse near the Ferry Street Bridge viaduct. The vehicle appears to have been moving at significant speed eastbound on 7th Avenue before it failed to make the turn onto the Ferry Street Bridge, and instead launched over Mill Street before coming to rest against the west wall of the courthouse landscaping. The driver was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene.
Both northbound and eastbound acess to the Ferry Street viaduct were closed while the Major Collision Investigation team reconstructed the crash. Identification of the driver is being withheld pending next-of kin notification.
While we are still yet to confirm intoxicants as a factor in this crash, EPD reminds people to designate a driver and to watch their speed. We will be conducting focus patrols throughout the holiday season to remove impaired drivers, and encourage people who see a driver they suspect to be intoxicated to call police immediately.
Anyone who witnessed this crash should contact Officer Annie McIntyre at (541) 681-5154, Extension 1149