After a tragic accident Thursday which killed 2 Mapleton High School students and injured 3 others, the state is looking at ways to improve safety on Highway 126. The road winds through the coast range between Eugene and Florence.
Little: "In this year alone, in 2014, we've had 10 fatalities. That's more than we've experienced in all of the past 5 years. And that's just unacceptable."
Rick Little is spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation. He says they're studying the highway to see how to make it safer.
He says ODOT has already improved signage and added rumble strips to center lanes on Highway 126. Little says federal funding is available to increase patrols on the road.
The accident occurred Thursday morning a mile or so east of Mapleton. The vehicle was found overturned down a steep embankment.
The Oregon State Police is still investigating.