SUV hits tree on Hwy. 126 near Santiam Pass

Oregon State Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of Wednesday afternoon’s single-vehicle injury traffic crash along Highway 126 south of Santiam Pass in Linn County.

According to Trooper Ryan Hockema, around 5:30 p.m., a 2004 Ford Escape driven by Candace Dobson of Pollock, Idaho, was eastbound on Highway 126 (the Clear Lake Highway) near milepost 13.

For an unconfirmed reason, Hockema said, the SUV traveled across the westbound lane and off the highway, where it collided head-on with a tree.

Dobson was trapped in the SUV until responding firefighters from the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District got her out.

She was flown by air ambulance helicopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield. But before the investigating trooper could get to the hospital, she was treated and released.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT. The highway was briefly closed for emergency response and air ambulance transport.