(no subject)
My mom just told me about this crash on I-5. Some of you probably knew them through music:
Symphony members die in crash
By Bill Bishop
The Register-Guard
Published: Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Two musicians of the Eugene Symphony, driving home after a rehearsal Sunday night, were killed and another was injured when a suspected drunken driver slammed into their car on Interstate 5 near Albany.
Kjersten J. Oquist, 36, of Wood Village, and Angela J. Svendsen, 31, of Vancouver, Wash., died at the scene, Oregon State Police reported. A third musician, Kelly M. Gronli, 28, of Portland, was treated at an Albany hospital and released.
The driver of the other car, Fivea Sharipoff, 26, of Salem, was traveling south in the northbound lanes when the crash happened, state police Lt. Mark Cotter said. She was arrested on charges of manslaughter, assault and drunken driving and is in Marion County Jail under $155,000 bail.
The musicians were returning to their homes after a rehearsal that ended at 10 p.m., Eugene Symphony Board President Mary Ann Hanson said Monday. Symphony officials were personally notifying the orchestra's 80 musicians, 33 board members and more than 200 guild members on Monday, she said.
"I'm sure all the musicians will be deeply affected by this," Hanson said.
Oquist was the symphony's principal violist. Svendsen was principal second violin. Gronli is the principal oboe player, Eugene Symphony Executive Director Paul Winberg said.
Svendsen joined the symphony in 2000. Oquist joined in 2002. Both also played for the Portland Ballet Theatre and in the Portland Opera Orchestra. Both were music teachers, Winberg said.
"They were both very active, busy musicians. In a very short time they established themselves as leaders and artistic partners in the orchestra. They will be missed," Winberg said. "Our hearts go out to their families. It is incredibly devastating."
Winberg said the symphony's musicians, staff, volunteers and board members soon will conduct a private meeting that will include the services of grief counselors.
The organization has not yet decided whether to go ahead with a scheduled performance Thursday night at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Winberg said.
The crash happened about 10:53 p.m. as Oquist was driving a 1993 Saturn north on I-5 in the left lane at the south end of Albany.
A southbound 1996 Nissan Sentra driven by Sharipoff struck the Saturn on the passenger side, police said.
Although the investigation is not finished, it appeared that Oquist was attempting to avoid a head-on collision, causing Sharipoff to crash into the side of the Saturn, Cotter said.
Police had not received toxicology reports on Monday to determine Sharipoff's blood alcohol content, or to determine whether illegal drugs may have contributed to the crash. No drugs were found at the scene, Cotter said.
Symphony members die in crash
By Bill Bishop
The Register-Guard
Published: Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Two musicians of the Eugene Symphony, driving home after a rehearsal Sunday night, were killed and another was injured when a suspected drunken driver slammed into their car on Interstate 5 near Albany.
Kjersten J. Oquist, 36, of Wood Village, and Angela J. Svendsen, 31, of Vancouver, Wash., died at the scene, Oregon State Police reported. A third musician, Kelly M. Gronli, 28, of Portland, was treated at an Albany hospital and released.
The driver of the other car, Fivea Sharipoff, 26, of Salem, was traveling south in the northbound lanes when the crash happened, state police Lt. Mark Cotter said. She was arrested on charges of manslaughter, assault and drunken driving and is in Marion County Jail under $155,000 bail.
The musicians were returning to their homes after a rehearsal that ended at 10 p.m., Eugene Symphony Board President Mary Ann Hanson said Monday. Symphony officials were personally notifying the orchestra's 80 musicians, 33 board members and more than 200 guild members on Monday, she said.
"I'm sure all the musicians will be deeply affected by this," Hanson said.
Oquist was the symphony's principal violist. Svendsen was principal second violin. Gronli is the principal oboe player, Eugene Symphony Executive Director Paul Winberg said.
Svendsen joined the symphony in 2000. Oquist joined in 2002. Both also played for the Portland Ballet Theatre and in the Portland Opera Orchestra. Both were music teachers, Winberg said.
"They were both very active, busy musicians. In a very short time they established themselves as leaders and artistic partners in the orchestra. They will be missed," Winberg said. "Our hearts go out to their families. It is incredibly devastating."
Winberg said the symphony's musicians, staff, volunteers and board members soon will conduct a private meeting that will include the services of grief counselors.
The organization has not yet decided whether to go ahead with a scheduled performance Thursday night at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Winberg said.
The crash happened about 10:53 p.m. as Oquist was driving a 1993 Saturn north on I-5 in the left lane at the south end of Albany.
A southbound 1996 Nissan Sentra driven by Sharipoff struck the Saturn on the passenger side, police said.
Although the investigation is not finished, it appeared that Oquist was attempting to avoid a head-on collision, causing Sharipoff to crash into the side of the Saturn, Cotter said.
Police had not received toxicology reports on Monday to determine Sharipoff's blood alcohol content, or to determine whether illegal drugs may have contributed to the crash. No drugs were found at the scene, Cotter said.