June 5, 2026 4:00 a.m. 

Multiple people were taken to the hospital following a serious motor vehicle crash which closed Highway 38 near Milepost 47 in the Elkton area on Thursday night.

Fire Chief Brian Burke of North Douglas County Fire & EMS said agencies were dispatched at approximately 7:00 p.m. Burke said initial reports indicated that a vehicle had left the roadway and gone down an embankment approximately 20 feet. Initial information indicated that two occupants may have been ejected from the vehicle. Burke said upon arrival, responders located the vehicle off the roadway with power lines down across or near the vehicle, creating additional hazards for emergency crews and the public.

Due to the severity of the crash, multiple ambulances, law enforcement, utility crews and air medical resources were requested. Highway 38 was closed for about three hours while crews worked to provide patient care, secure the scene, manage traffic and coordinate with utility crews regarding the downed power lines.

Burke said at least two patients were transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield for trauma care. One patient was transferred to REACH Air Medical after a landing zone was established in the Elkton area.

North Douglas County Fire & EMS was also assisted by Elkton Fire Department, Life Flight, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by law enforcement.