Carl Wescott, a 73-year-old military veteran from Sweet Home, Oregon, died in 2022 after his motorized wheelchair fell into an open construction trench at the intersection of 18th Avenue and Main Street, suffering severe injuries including an open ankle fracture-dislocation, left upper arm and fibula fractures, and extensive soft tissue damage. His family sued the state of Oregon and Lane County contractors—Wildish Construction, C-2 Utility Contractors, and Lantz Electric—alleging workers allowed him to cross the closed site twice, with a C-2 employee moving a backhoe to permit passage on his return from a nearby store. Wescott, already battling kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes, spent his final two weeks in a hospital bed before succumbing to complications.
Defendants’ Defenses
Contractors and state officials denied liability, arguing Wescott was negligent for reentering the zone despite warnings to use an alternate safe route. They claimed responsibility lay solely with him, countering family assertions of permission granted by on-site staff.
Case Outcome
The wrongful death suit, seeking $2.35 million, was set for trial in May 2026 but settled confidentially this month, with Linn County court dismissing it on December 19, 2025. Terms remain undisclosed, highlighting construction site safety liabilities for vulnerable pedestrians like wheelchair users.
