An overturned pickup blocks the eastbound lanes of Highway 20 near milepost 23, about five miles west of Sweet Home Monday afternoon, Aug. 8. The driver, Deborah L. Gerig, 42, of Sweet Home, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital. Oregon State Police and Sweet Home medics responded to a report of the single-vehicle crash at about 2 p.m. on Monday. A preliminary investigation revealed that the 2001 GMC pickup was traveling east on Highway 20 when it left the highway and rolled over. Both eastbound lanes were blocked for several hours with an established detour in place. OSP was assisted on the scene by Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and the Oregon Department of Transportation. OSP plans to release further information as it becomes available. Further details were unavailable as The New Era went to press.
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