Associated Press
 
October 13, 2009
 
OAKRIDGE, Ore. -- State police say an Oakridge police officer involved in a fatal crash has been upgraded from critical to stable condition at a Springfield hospital.
 
The patrol car driven by 27-year-old Daniel Miller collided Monday with a 1965 Ford Thunderbird driven by 91-year-old Virginia Spalinger.
 
State police say Miller was traveling west on Oregon 58 with his emergency lights and siren on, trying to overtake a speeding vehicle. As he approached an intersection, the car driven by Spalinger started a left turn, colliding head-on with the police car.
 
Spalinger died at the hospital.
 
Miller has worked as a full-time police officer for 13 months.