Briande Lybbert Killed in Clackamas County Car Accident
A 16-year-old driver was cited for careless driving after failing to yield the right of way near Southeast Weber Road
Briande Boudreau Lybbert, 39, of Portland, was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 26 near Southeast Weber Road in Clackamas County on May 29, according to Oregon State Police.
A 16-year-old girl driving a blue Subaru Impreza pulled onto the highway and failed to yield the right of way. A westbound blue Ford Focus struck the back left of the Subaru, crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a U-Haul moving truck.
Lybbert, who was driving the Ford, died at the scene. Troopers cited the teenage driver of the Subaru for careless driving.
Paramedics took the driver and a passenger in the U-Haul to a local hospital with minor injuries. The teenager was not hurt.
The crash closed lanes for about four hours while investigators examined the scene. The investigation remains ongoing.
Lybbert is among the 587 people killed on Oregon roads in 2023, according to state Department of Transportation data.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a preventable collision leaves families devastated and searching for answers. While the teenage driver faces a careless driving citation, investigators will continue to examine the sequence of events that forced the Ford into oncoming traffic.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Witness accounts after a right-of-way crash are often inconsistent because collisions happen so quickly and people observe them from completely different angles. That is precisely why physical evidence, camera footage, and forensic analysis matter so much in these cases."
An attorney can coordinate a thorough independent investigation, track down overlooked footage, and make sure the full story gets told clearly and accurately, added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Why did the Subaru fail to yield on Highway 26?
Determining liability in failure-to-yield crashes requires a thorough review of sightlines, vehicle speeds, and driver distraction. Investigators will likely examine the intersection geometry near Southeast Weber Road to understand why the teenager pulled into the path of the Ford Focus.
"Determining who is the at-fault party in an motor vehicle accident means identifying if a motorist acted carelessly or negligently," noted Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
"Oftentimes, it is clear who the responsible driver is following an accident. However, sometimes it can be difficult to identify who may have caused it."
What are the legal options for the victim's family?
Families of victims like Lybbert often face overwhelming emotional and financial burdens following a fatal crash. When a driver is cited for a traffic violation that results in a death, the victim's estate may have grounds to pursue a civil claim independent of any traffic or criminal proceedings.
Oregon wrongful death statute
Under ORS § 30.020, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Oregon applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.