Oregon Runners Injured In I-5 Accident, Police Looking For Rock Throwers - updated
 | DyeStatCOLLEGE.com Nov 28th 2012, 9:44pm | PrintReport |
Large rock from I-5 overpass hits driver in face, causes crash
RICE HILL, Ore. - A rock larger than a baseball crashed through the windshield of a car on Interstate 5 Monday night, injuring the University of Oregon student athlete behind the wheel and causing the car to crash.
UO student Molly Grabill, 20, of Poway, California, was driving north on I-5 around 10:40 p.m. when a rock larger than a baseball came down from the Isadore Road overpass at Exit 146, smashing through the driver's side of the windshield and hitting Grabill in the face, Oregon State Police said.
Grabill's passenger, Chris Brewer, grabbed the steering wheel of the 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon but was unable to control the car. The Subaru went off the road and overturned on the freeway, police said.
Statement from Oregon's Rob Mullens
University of Director of Athletics
“It is difficult to comprehend when a random act such as this one happens to anyone, let alone members of our athletic family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Molly and Chris for a speedy recovery. They have the wonderful support of family, friends, teammates and coaches and we are very thankful both are expected to recover.
“I urge anyone with information on this incident to please come forward and contact the Oregon State Police so that no one else gets hurt.”
Statement from Robert Johnson
University of Oregon Head Track and Field Coach
“The most import thing is that we are grateful Molly and Chris are going to be alright. We’re a tight-knit, family oriented team and this has been a real shock for all of us. The outcome could have been much worse.
“Our team has rallied around Molly and Chris and I’m so proud to see them all being there for their teammates and doing whatever they can to help. We will continue to support Molly and Chris and we ask for all of TrackTown to pray for a speedy recovery.”
Oregon State Police troopers from the Roseburg Area Command office are asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for throwing rocks from an Interstate 5 overpass just south of Rice Hill Monday night. The rock went through a vehicle’s windshield, hitting the driver in the face causing non-life threatening injuries.
According to Senior Trooper Dave Stone, on November 26, 2012 at 10:40 p.m., a 1997 Subaru driven by MOLLY GRABILL, age 20, from Poway, California, was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 146 approaching the Isadore Road overpass. A rock larger than a baseball was thrown from the overpass, smashing through the driver’s side windshield and hit GRAYBILL in the face.
The car’s male passenger, CHRIS BREWER, age and residence not available, grabbed the steering wheel to control the vehicle. He was unable to keep it under control as the vehicle traveled onto the shoulder and rolled on the freeway coming to rest facing the opposite direction.
GRABILL was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield for treatment of facial injuries. The male passenger was also transported and he was treated and released. GRABILL is reported in good condition this morning.
An area search also led troopers to locate similar rocks near an overpass and 7 miles south of the incident scene near milepost 139.
Anyone with information about persons or vehicles near the mentioned locations is asked to call OSP Detective Tom Willis at (541) 440-3334 or the OSP Southern Command Center dispatch at (541) 440-3333.
Lieutenant Gregg Hastings
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Police
Office: (503) 731-3020 ext 247
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.oregon.gov/OSP
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ORStatePolice
Read the full article at http://www.kval.com/news/local/Large-rock-from-overpass-hits-driver...
5 comment(s)
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ross
Greg also wanted to pass along these statements from Chris Brewer regarding Monday nightâs accident on I-5:
âI am just thankful that Molly and I are alright. Itâs really a miracle.â âIt was just a shock when it happened, like something you see in a movie. Itâs still very traumatic and hard to think about.â âI would like to thank everyone for their support both here at the University and back home. Our families, friends and teammates have been great just being there for us and taking care of whatever we need.â âIâve received emails and texts from so many people who are concerned, especially from back home and I know Molly has too. Eugene and San Diego are such amazing places and the people in both really care a lot and we truly appreciate that.â |
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ross
Update.
Greg Walker of Oregon just confirmed that Molly was discharged from RiverBend around 1 p.m. this afternoon. |
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Kevin
Wishing you a speedy recovery Molly and Chris!
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T_Healy
This is awful I am glad they were not critically hurt
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Chris Nickinson
Hopefully someone has some information on these people and turns them in.
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