August 12, 2009

Near Eddyville, Ore.-- An Albany man died and two others were seriously injured Wednesday morning after two vehicles collided head-on on Highway 20, about two miles east of Eddyville.

Oregon State Police say 62-year-old Edward Randolph Johnston was traveling eastbound and attempted to pass another vehicle using the westbound lane.  26-year-old Joseph Oliver Ernst was driving westbound, reportedly moved toward the eastbound lane to avoid Johnston's vehicle, then steered back into the westbound lane where the vehicles collided head-on.

Ernst was pronounced dead at the scene; his passenger, 17-year-old Gregory Jay Higgins, along with Johnston, were both seriously injured and were taken to the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis.  All three people were wearing safety restraints.

The crash led to the closure of Highway 20 for several hours; a detour was set up around the area until the highway was re-opened at around noon.