Mill City Man Killed When SUV Hits Tree Near Gates
The investigation so far as found that 63-year-old Christopher Wallace of Mill City, was traveling east on Kingwood Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle near the intersection of Gates School Road.
(GATES, Ore. ) — Linn County Sheriff’s Deputies are continuing to investigate a fatal motor vehicle crash Saturday in the 50000 block of Kingwood Avenue near Gates, Oregon.
Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley says at around 10:45 a.m. a nearby resident, William Allen, who was also employed as a firefighter with the Gates Fire Department, called police and medical personnel to the crash scene.
The investigation so far as found that 63-year-old Christopher Wallace of Mill City, was traveling east on Kingwood Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle near the intersection of Gates School Road. His vehicle crossed the opposing lane of travel and struck an oak tree that was approximately 10 feet off the roadway.
The Jeep then caught fire, with Wallace inside the vehicle. Allen ran to the vehicle and found Wallace to be deceased with severe injuries.
Allen was unable to get Wallace out of the burning vehicle. The vehicle became fully engulfed as Gates and Mill City firefighters arrived on scene.
Riley says the investigation has revealed that high speed could be a contributing factor, and that Wallace was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
