ASUO Street Faire Fall '22

EUGENE, Ore. – While concerns of unhealthy air quality were on people’s minds, a different matter took hold of UO’s street faire on Thursday morning.

An Umpqua delivery truck ran into a tree on campus around 7:30 a.m. This caused a large crack to form and destabilized an overhanging branch.

“Everyone is okay and business was able to continue as normal,” said Matt Marcott, Associated Students of the University of Oregon financial services advisor.

There were no injuries to the driver or any bystanders. The passenger side of the truck was slightly damaged where the truck hit the tree.

Marcott was present at the time of the incident but did not physically witness it. Not many pedestrians were on campus at this time in the morning.

Campus planning and facilities management and UO police responded to the scene. With concern for students, CPFM was called in to trim off the branch. Part of 13th was taped off during the process.

“Now that the branches have been removed, that danger is out of the way,” said Marcott.

Vendor Claire Hollenbaugh’s tent was under the tree when it happened. When she came to the fair today, her booth was taped off and she was told not to go in.

“It may have affected [business] a little bit but they’ll come back after class,” Hollenbaugh said.

Five police officers helped move Hollenbaugh’s tent to a safer spot across the street. She was situated in the new spot for the rest of the day.

Hollenbaugh’s business, Fancy Accent Tea Company, has been involved in the fair for four years. This was the first time she witnessed an incident like this.

Vendors set up near the tree were not told any new precautions to take.

Thursday was the second day of the ASUO street fair. It is scheduled to run from October 12 to October 14. This fair is the third to take place post-COVID.