Sean C. Morgan
The driver in a single-car crash Thursday night remained in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland Monday.
Samuel Edward Huxford, 22, of Sweet Home was initially transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and then to Legacy Emanuel.
Sweet Home police and paramedics responded at 9:18 p.m. to the 900 block of 43rd Avenue where Huxford’s vehicle had crashed.
Passengers Courtney Dawn Allen, 21, and Jessica M. Magee, 19, of Sweet Home sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The Linn County Major Accident Investigation Team responded and assisted in the accident investigation.
“Witnesses and evidence at the scene indicate that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it lost control,” said Police Chief Bob Burford. “The vehicle impacted several mailboxes and an irrigation ditch before becoming airborne and then back to rest on its wheels.”
Alcohol was a contributing factor, Burford said.
The day after the crash, a woman reported to Linn County Sheriff’s Office that she had gone to get Huxford’s belongings, but his guns and memorabilia had been stolen.
A deputy responded and learned that a laptop computer, three firearms and memorabilia, a wristwatch and a Playstation 3 had been stolen from Huxford’s home in the 800 block of 43rd Avenue.
The caller told police she had contacted Casey Howard, 20, of Lebanon and found he had the firearms, said Linn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Forest Burkes. Howard allegedly told her she had taken them for safekeeping.
Deputies arrested Howard for three counts of first-degree theft on Saturday. Howard was lodged at Linn County Jail.