March 11, 2025 9:20 a.m.

A vehicle accident led to a lengthy power outage just west of Roseburg on Monday evening.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said at 5:10 p.m. a vehicle went off the roadway on the side of the southbound lane on Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard, west of Northwest Troost Street. A power pole was knocked down and electrical lines landed on the ground. Staff from Pacific Power responded and eventually cleared the wires from the roadway. That section of Garden Valley Boulevard was closed for a time.

A 60-year-old man was driver of the vehicle, and was still in it after the crash took place. He was removed from the vehicle by emergency medical responders and transported to CHI Mercy Medical Center for his injuries. Initial information indicated that a pickup had struck the first vehicle, causing the driver to lose control, and his vehicle to go off the roadway.

A deputy learned that the second vehicle did not appear to contact the first vehicle. The investigation was inconclusive on how the vehicle left the roadway due to a lack of evidence on the scene.

Pacific Power Regional Business Manager Sam Carter told News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN that the wreck caused significant damage to power equipment that required extensive repairs to the main distribution line. Carter said there was no way to isolate a power outage before making repairs and re-energizing the line. 1440 Pacific Power customers lost power until just before 9:00 p.m. Carter said this was mostly out Garden Valley Road past the Cleveland Hill area and it also impacted a part of Melrose.