Briefly.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Bicyclist suffers severe injuries in collision

A Eugene man was in critical condition Wednesday night after he steered his bicycle into oncoming traffic and was struck by a car in west Eugene, a Lane County sheriff's deputy said.

Randolph Cantrell, 41, attempted to cross River Road while traveling west on Brotherton Avenue at about 8 p.m., according to deputy Paul Vitus. Mildred Dascher, 63, of Eugene was driving a red 1991 Chevrolet Corsica south on River Road and hit Cantrell as he crossed the street.

Dascher was driving under the 40 mph speed limit and had the right-of-way, Vitus said.

Cantrell, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he was in critical condition Wednesday night. He suffered major head and leg injuries, Vitus said.

Deputies believe Cantrell was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Man says he was beaten after finding marijuana 

A man told police Wednesday he stumbled onto a hidden marijuana crop and was beaten by a board-wielding attacker in the woods near Lane Community College.

The 48-year-old man, whom police described as a transient, was being treated at Sacred Heart Medical Center for head and leg injuries. The injured man approached a campus security officer at 5:45 p.m. and said he had been attacked by a man holding a large wooden object.

Lane County deputies, Eugene police and a Springfield police dog combed the area south of 30th Avenue near the college in search of the assailant but didn't find him.