Parents arrested after leaving two 16-year-old teens on side of I-105 following verbal dispute involving girl’s boyfriend

Eugene, OR – Eugene police arrested two parents after they allegedly left two 16-year-old teenagers on the side of I-105 following a verbal dispute involving one of the teens.

Police responded after a 9-1-1 caller reported seeing two juveniles on the side of I-105 near Delta Highway, where they were attempting to wave down passing vehicles for help.

An officer located the two teenagers, who told police they were 16 and in a dating relationship.

According to police, the female teenager had asked her mother, Alisa Marie Ward, 43, and her stepfather, Patrick Barnard Culver, 42, both of Springfield, to pick up the teens and take them home.

Ward and Culver arrived and picked up the teenagers. While driving on I-105, a verbal dispute occurred between Culver and the girl’s boyfriend.

Police said Culver then pulled the vehicle over and told the 16-year-old boy to get out and walk home.

The girl also got out of the vehicle and followed him.

Officers later contacted Ward and Culver at their home.

Both parents were cited in lieu of custody on charges of reckless endangering.

Police did not provide additional information about what led to the dispute or whether either teenager was injured.