Woman Seriously Injured Trying to Cross Highway 20

Photo By: Tim King

(SWEET HOME) - A Sweet Home woman was seriously injured Friday night after she stepped into an eastbound lane of Highway 20 about three miles west of Sweet Home and was struck by a van.

Troopers are investigating alcohol as a contributing factor related to the pedestrian.

OSP spokesman Lt. Gregg Hastings says just before 9:30 PM, a 1990 GMC Safari van driven by 19-year-old Nicole Taylor, from Dallas, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 23 in the left hand lane.

The pedestrian, identified as 45-year-old Robin Welch of Sweet Home, was attempting to cross Highway 20 from the north to the south when she stepped from the paved center median into the left eastbound lane Hastings said.

Taylor was unable to avoid the pedestrian as the left front and side of the van struck Welch. Welch was seriously injured and transported to a Lebanon Community Hospital.

Taylor, as well as three other van occupants, were not injured in the incident.

OSP troopers from Albany Area Command office are continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Mutli-Agency Traffic Team including Sweet Home Police Department and Linn County Sheriff's Office.