SUTHERLIN, Ore. (Aug. 20, 2026) — An 80-year-old Independence man was killed late Monday night when his vehicle left Interstate 5, struck trees, rolled over and caught fire in Douglas County, Oregon State Police said.
The crash was reported at about 11:47 p.m. Aug. 17 on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 138.
According to a preliminary investigation, Carl Leslie Earhart, 80, was driving a silver Kia Rondo northbound when the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons. The Kia struck a group of trees, rolled over and caught fire.
Earhart was pronounced dead at the scene.
The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation, police said.
The Oregon State Police was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sutherlin Police Department, Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The investigation was handled with assistance from the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, a specialized team that investigates fatal and critical-injury crashes on Oregon highways.
The unit’s collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators receive specialized training in advanced crash-scene measurement techniques and the use of small unmanned aircraft systems. The team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and investigators who are deployed throughout Oregon.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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