A Linn-Benton Community College baseball player was in serious condition Monday at Portland’s Emmanuel Hospital after a single-vehicle rollover on North River Road Saturday afternoon, April 23.
According to Linn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Greene, a 1984 Nissan Pathfinder driven by teammate Kenneth F. Strate, 23, of Albany, was traveling west on North River Road about 4:37 p.m., at Foster Dam Road, when it veered to the right into the ditch and rolled over, then flipped. The passenger, Kyle Morgan, 19, of Albany, was ejected. Green said Morgan sustained multiple skull fractures and a broken sternum, cheekbone and a spinal fracture. He was taken to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and was later airlifted to Emmanuel, where he was in intensive care Monday.
Strate was charged with driving under the influence, second-degree assault, driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance. He was taken to Linn County Jail.
Morgan, originally from Vancouver, Wash., is a 6-1 freshman lefthanded pitcher for the Roadrunners. Strate is listed on the roster as a 5-10 freshman outfielder from Medford.