GOLD HILL, Ore. (Jun. 1, 2026) — A single-vehicle DUII crash has caused significant structural damage to the nearly century-old Lampman Road Bridge over Galls Creek, forcing Jackson County officials to close the span indefinitely, authorities said.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded Sunday, May 31, at about 8:34 p.m. to the 1600 block of Lampman Road after reports of a crash. Investigators found a 27-year-old woman walking away from the scene. Deputies noted signs of impairment, and the woman later consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. A breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.24%, according to authorities. She was arrested on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The Rogue River Police Department assisted at the scene.
The crash caused extensive damage to the historic steel truss structure, prompting an immediate engineering assessment by the Jackson County Roads and Parks Department. Officials determined the bridge was no longer safe for any vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic and closed it indefinitely.
“Important structural components of the nearly 100-year-old bridge trusses were damaged to the point that our Engineering team has serious concerns with the structural stability of the bridge,” said Jackson County Roads and Parks Director Steve Lambert. “To ensure the safety of our residents, the bridge will be closed and first responders have been notified.”
Lambert added that funding to replace the bridge has already been secured and design work is underway, but he cautioned that the closure will be long-term as the county works through design and procurement in coordination with the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The closure impacts a key local route over Galls Creek, requiring motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to use alternate crossings until further notice.
Officials said the incident underscores the dangers of impaired driving. While no injuries were reported, authorities noted that DUII crashes can lead to serious injury or death and, in this case, resulted in major damage to a historic public bridge.
DUII enforcement efforts in Jackson County are supported in part by grant funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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