This post was updated at 9:52 p.m. to include additional information from police.
A man died in a car accident between Hayward Field and the LLC residence hall Thursday night after experiencing a medical emergency behind the wheel and striking multiple parked cars.
UOPD identified the man as Todd Jeffrey Hanson, 53, of Carlsbad, California. He was visiting the University of Oregon with his family for IntroDUCKtion.
Police were called at 6:37 p.m. after a westbound GMC truck struck multiple parked cars on the south side of East 15th Avenue, near the Bowerman Family building. The driver may have experienced a heart attack, according to his wife who was a passenger in the car. The wife was not injured.
Paramedics Pronounced Hanson dead just after 7 p.m., trying to revive him.
According to a witness, the truck swerved into several parked cars before coming to a stop. The truck struck five to six vehicles. Two fire trucks and an ambulance arrived on the scene shortly afterward.
Several vehicles were towed away from the site just after 9 p.m., including a Toyota Camry with its airbags deployed.
A Toyota Camry with airbags deployed getting towed away from the site on Thursday evening. (Jack Pitcher/Emerald)
“Our community would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the family involved,” Vice President for Student Services Roger Thompson wrote in a statement Thursday. “IntroDUCKtion is a time of excitement and new beginnings, and to suffer such a loss during what should be a positive experience is beyond my comprehension. My thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
Follow Jack Pitcher on Twitter @jackpitcher20.
