Springfield Man Arrested Following Serious Injury Traffic Crash east of Florence

One driver received minor injuries and was subsequently arrested for DUII, Reckless Driving, 2 counts of Assault in the Second Degree, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

Photos of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(FLORENCE, Ore.) - Oregon State Police arrested a Springfield man on multiple charges Saturday morning following a two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 126W east of Florence that seriously injured a Florence couple.

OSP Sergeant Andy Kenyon says OSP troopers from Florence and Springfield offices responded this morning at approximately 2:30 a.m. to a reported two-vehicle injury traffic crash on Highway 126W near milepost 6.

Preliminary investigation indicates a 1994 Ford Explorer driven by 47-year old Richard Alfred Lopez of Springfield, was eastbound when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 2006 Subaru Forrester occupied by three people.

The Subaru's driver, 63-year old larry Gene Larson, and his passenger/wife, 63-year old Deborah A. Larson, both of Florence were seriously injured.

Their daughter, 21-year old Anna V. Larson of Florence, was not injured.

Kenyon says the injured couple was extricated by Siuslaw Valley Fire Department personnel and transported by Western Lane Ambulance to Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence with serious injuries.

Larry Larson was later transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend for additional medical care.

Lopez received minor injuries and was subsequently arrested for DUII, Reckless Driving, 2 counts of Assault in the Second Degree, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

Safety restraint use information not available. The Subaru's airbags deployed.

Highway 126W was closed about two hours at the crash scene.

OSP troopers were also assisted by ODOT.