Last Thursday, Oregon State Police were called to the scene of a deadly collision on Highway 126 near Florence in Lane County. According to the Oregon State Police, a white Ford T-350 van, headed east and driven by 37-year-old Eugene resident Mathew Jacob Decker, crashed head-on with a westbound white Freightliner semi-truck operated by 64-year-old Joseph Jack Botelho of Veneta.
The collision, which left Decker dead at the scene, occurred near milepost 6 on the highway. Details remain scarce as to why the vehicles collided. Botelho reported only minor injuries and was not transported for medical treatment. The aftermath of the crash led to Highway 126 being closed for around five hours as an investigation took place and major traffic disruptions throughout the morning.
As officials worked to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident, Western Lane Fire and EMS, alongside the Oregon Department of Transportation, assisted. The reason behind the fatal crash is still under investigation as authorities seek to understand the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event that claimed the life of Decker, leaving family, friends, and the local community to mourn.
