Florence man dead after SUV leaves icy road, lands in Siuslaw River
One man is dead and another is injured after a car crash on Highway 36 near milepost 1 in Lane County Sunday afternoon.
Oregon State Police responded to the area at 12:15 p.m. where they learned a Ford Explorer traveling westbound on Highway 36 crossed the centerline of an icy curve into the eastbound lane and struck a Honda Civic.
The Ford became airborne and came to rest, fully submerged in the Siuslaw River.
Benjamin Beecher, 72, of Florence was the driver of the Ford Explorer. He was pronounced dead on scene by Lane County Search and Rescue who responded with a dive team to assist with the submerged vehicle.
The operator of the Honda, Jeffrey Varga, 18, and passenger Geneva Varga, 21, of North Bend were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Oregon State Police.
Highway traffic was impacted for approximately five hours during an on-scene investigation.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Florence man dead, 2 injured after car crash in Lane County
