One person died and two were seriously injured in a head-on collision Saturday afternoon on Highway 20 in an area located roughly halfway between Blodgett and Eddyville, Oregon State Police reported.
Devon Negathon, 52, of South Beach, was killed in the crash and his passenger, Cheryl Anne Ballas, 32, of Newport, was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with serious injuries. The driver of the second vehicle, Curtis Preston, 53, of Toledo, was extricated from his vehicle and also transported to Corvallis with serious injuries.
According to information released by OSP, troopers and other emergency responders were dispatched at 5:35 p.m. to the crash on Highway 20 near milepost 29.
A preliminary investigation shows that an eastbound white GMC Sierra with Negathon at the wheel crossed over the center line and crashed head-on with Preston’s westbound gray Toyota Tacoma.
Highway 20 was reduced to one lane for approximately four hours, OSP said.
Assisting OSP on the response were Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo Fire and Rescue, Philomath Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Transportation.