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Updated 8:12 p.m. Saturday
OSU student seriously injured when rock crashes through windshield
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 1/19/07 Section: News
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Sean Christopher Passage, a 23-year-old from Bend who was on his way to Corvallis, was on Highway 20 about 27 miles east of Sweet Home when the incident occurred, police said.
At approximately 4:49 p.m., a large rock struck the windshield of Passage's Toyota pickup, hitting the right side of his body and his arm, police said. Portland news station KATU reported that the boulder weighed 100 pounds.
"Passage was able to keep control of the car and swerved to the right shoulder where he stopped and got out," the news release said.
Then, he laid on the highway shoulder and flagged down a passing motorist who stopped and drove him toward Sweet Home, police said. KATU said Passage tried to call 911 but could not get service.
Once in an area with cell phone service, the driver called for help, police said, and Sweet Home area medics took over transport to Sweet Home High School, where they were met by the REACH air ambulance service.
Passage was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Police said he suffered from a broken right arm and a bruised kidney.
State police from the Albany area command are investigating the incident. Trooper Scott Hite, the lead investigator for the case, believes the rock fell from an area embankment.
According to Passage's profile on the social networking site Facebook.com, he is a 2002 graduate of Mountain View High School studying civil engineering at OSU.
He is also a meber of the OSU cycling team, according to its Web site.
His father Joe Passage told KATU that after he left his vehicle, his computer, snowboard and snow boots were stolen. Joe Passage said the family is offering a reward for the stolen items. His computer contains family photos and school work, KATU said.
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