A former Sweet Home man died early Saturday, Dec. 26, in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 just west of Lebanon.
According to the Oregon State Police, a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Edward J. Sarter, 21, of Albany, was traveling eastbound about 8 a.m. on Highway 20 near milepost 11 when it failed to negotiate a corner and left the highway. The vehicle rolled over and struck a tree.
Sarter, a 2013 graduate of Sweet Home High School, who was known as “Jason,” was declared deceased on scene by emergency personnel, according to OSP.
This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released when it is available, according to OSP.
“Jason was a good kid,” said Mike Carpenter, athletics director at the Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club.
He was an official for basketball at the club.
“He was always down here for open gyms,” Carpenter said. “He was one of my kids.”
Carpenter had seen Sarter a couple of days before the accident, he said.
Carpenter spent part of Monday lending an ear and support for Sarter’s friends who also work and play at the Boys & Girls Club.
Hunter Jutte played basketball with Sarter in high school and at the open gym time.
“My buddy called me that night and asked me if I knew about it,” Jutte said. “I went on Facebook and read about it.”
Jutte played basketball with Sarter on Christmas Eve, he said.
“He was always a smiling, happy guy,” Jutte said. “He was a great basketball player.”