Linn County, OR. – Official Release: On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 8:25 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20, at the intersection with Knox Butte Road, in Linn County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Hyundai Santa Fe, operated by Loren Duane Soderholm (72) of Albany, failed to stop at the intersection and entered the path of a westbound Volvo XC9, operated by Jayden Loren Viars (19) of Menasha (WI), causing a side impact collision.
The operator of the Hyundai (Soderholm) was transported to an area hospital and later declared deceased.
The operator of the Volvo (Viars) suffered reported minor injuries.
The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Albany Fire Department.
About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
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