Oregon Crash Kills One Person Wednesday In Eugene

EUGENE, OR. (THECOUNT) — One person was killed Wednesday evening in a two-vehicle crash on Beltline Highway near the Interstate 5 connector in Eugene, Oregon, according to the Eugene Police Department. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family members.

The fatal crash was reported at approximately 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, near the eastbound Beltline Highway connector to southbound Interstate 5. Officers from the Eugene Police Department and its Major Collision Investigation team responded to the scene.

According to EPD, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. No further details about the cause of the crash or the identities of those involved have been released pending the ongoing investigation.

The collision also caused a power pole to break, contributing to an extended closure of the area. Eastbound Beltline Highway access to Interstate 5 remained shut down for several hours as emergency crews and utility workers worked to stabilize the scene. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes during the closure. The roadway reopened at approximately 12:50 p.m. Thursday.

Beltline Highway is a major east-west limited-access highway that bisects the city of Eugene and serves as one of the primary connectors between residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and the Interstate 5 freeway corridor. The eastbound connector to southbound I-5 is a heavily traveled ramp during evening commute hours, carrying a significant volume of traffic from the central and eastern portions of Eugene toward the freeway. The Beltline Highway corridor has been the site of numerous serious crashes over the years, drawing ongoing attention from city and state transportation officials.

Eugene is the second-largest city in Oregon with a population of approximately 177,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Lane County. The city is located in the Willamette Valley approximately 110 miles south of Portland and 60 miles east of the Pacific Coast. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon and is served by Interstate 5, which runs along the eastern edge of the city, and by Eugene Airport, which provides commercial air service to the Pacific Northwest region. The greater Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area has a combined population of approximately 380,000 residents.

The Eugene Police Department Major Collision Investigation team is leading the investigation. No further information has been released.

Approximate crash scene location — Eastbound Beltline Highway at Interstate 5 connector, Eugene, Oregon: View on Google Maps

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