Two Cars Crash into Pole, Pedestrian Hurt on Franklin Boulevard

Eugene police responded at 9:13 p.m. on December 20 to a crash at 1759 Franklin Boulevard where a blue Subaru Outback struck a utility pole carrying powerlines. The Subaru became lodged against the pole and was held vertically by the guywires. A white Subaru located northwest of the impact point was also involved. Traffic was closed from Villard Street to Agate Street while emergency crews worked at the scene.

Investigators determined the driver of the white Subaru was pulling out of the parking lot at 1759 Franklin Boulevard when the collision occurred. Three pedestrians were walking eastbound on Franklin Boulevard at the time. Two of the pedestrians jumped clear after someone warned them, but a 40 year old man was struck. He was alert and talking when transported to a local hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.

The occupants of the vehicles included a 73 year old driver and a 73 year old male passenger in the white Subaru, who were not injured. The 77 year old driver and a 45 year old male passenger in the blue Subaru required extrication by Eugene Springfield Fire and were transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. Intoxication is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.

EWEB crews responded to address damaged guywires and the involvement of powerlines in the roadway, a response that prevented the scene from reopening until approximately 11:45 p.m. The temporary closure spanned roughly two and a half hours, creating delays for motorists and potential short term impacts to nearby businesses during a busy evening period. The event demonstrates how crashes that involve utility infrastructure can shift emergency priorities from simple patient care to scene stabilization and public safety around live electrical equipment.

Eugene Police continue to investigate. The case is logged as Case 25 20582. The collision serves as a reminder of the complex interactions between vehicle traffic, pedestrian flow, and utility assets on urban arterials, and points to the value of infrastructure protections and rapid coordination between police, fire, and utility crews to limit harm and restore normal operations.