Update: Oregon Route 126 east of Florence reopens after fatal accident forces closure

Oregon Route 126 closed east of Florence Sunday afternoon following a traffic accident, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

One person is dead and another was injured, according to emergency response officials.

The closure was reported around 3 p.m. on Sunday, about six miles east of Mapleton, between Florence and Eugene. Traffic was being diverted over Highway 36 at Mapleton. The roadway was reopened late Sunday night, according to ODOT.

A preliminary investigation found that an eastbound Honda driven by an 83-year-old woman from Eugene had left the roadway "for unknown reasons", struck a tree and landed in an adjacent creek, according to the Oregon State Police.

One of the passengers, identified as 80-year-old Ruth Anne Romoser, of Springfield, was declared deceased at the scene. The driver was injured and transported to an area hospital.

The highway, a major route in the area, was busier than usual due to the popular "Rhody Fest" Rhododendron Festival in Florence, which had been expected to draw increased traffic volume on the highway.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Update: Oregon Route 126 east of Florence reopens after crash