PORTLAND — The 18-year-old son of former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber suffered serious injuries in a Monday car crash along the Oregon Coast.
State Police Capt. Bill Fugate said Logan Kitzhaber of Portland was driving a Toyota Prius that sideswiped a motor home after crossing the centerline on Highway 101 near Lincoln City, Ore. The motor home rolled onto its side and the Prius registered to the former governor ended up on the shoulder.
Kitzhaber was extricated from the demolished vehicle and flown to OHSU Hospital in Portland. His injuries were initially considered life-threatening, but later downgraded to serious and he was out of the hospital before noon Tuesday.
The driver of the motor home — Stanley Lyckman, 67, of Port Angeles — was taken to a coastal hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening. His 63-year-old passenger suffered a minor injury.
The cause of the crash, which happened on a dry highway at 1:30 p.m., has yet to be determined.
“There could be fatigue driving, distracted driving, impaired driving,” Fugate said. “We’re still conducting the investigation, which includes toxicology, interviews, that sort of thing.”
Fugate said detectives want to hear from anyone who witnessed the Prius before the collision.
Logan is the only child of Kitzhaber and his second wife, Sharon. Their marriage ended as Kitzhaber left office in 2003.
“He’s doing well and recovering at home,” the ex-governor said in a statement. “Both Sharon and I appreciate the outpouring of support.”
After eight years out of office, Kitzhaber made a political comeback and was re-elected governor in 2010 and again in 2014.
He resigned last year amid allegations that this fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, used their relationship to win contracts for her consulting business. Federal agents launched an investigation, but no charges have been filed.
