Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm reports on August 8, at 12:06 a.m., deputies received a report of a DUII driver parked off Highway 34 near Corvallis. The caller reported before the suspected driver drove away from the area, he talked with the driver who was intoxicated.

Deputies responded and located the suspect vehicle driving south on Peoria Road. The responding deputy initiated a traffic stop to pull over the driver of the suspect vehicle. The driver went around the vehicle they were following, did not stop and sped away. The deputy pursued the vehicle a short distance when the driver lost control, crashing into a field.

The driver, identified as Michael Peacock, 28, from Lebanon, was ejected from the vehicle. Peacock sustained life threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis where he was later pronounced deceased. Peacock was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Due to the pursuit, Linn County Sheriff’s Office requested Oregon State Police to investigate the crash. This investigation is ongoing.