One person was killed and another injured Saturday morning in a crash on Highway 99W north of Monroe, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported. It was the third fatal crash in Benton County on the highway over the first nine weeks of this year.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene at 9:42 a.m. and the highway was closed for approximately four hours.
An investigation showed that a Jeep headed north on the highway was attempting to turn west onto Dawson Road when it was struck by a southbound Ford pickup. The Jeep’s front-seat passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with injuries. A rear-seat passenger in the Jeep and the driver of the pickup were not injured.
A press release issued on the crash through BCSO did not include any age, sex or city of residence information about those involved.
Deputies said both drivers cooperated with investigators. The Benton County Regional Crash Team responded. Alcohol and speed do not appear to be contributing factors in the crash, BCSO said.
Assisting at the scene were the Monroe and Corvallis fire departments, Corvallis Police Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information concerning the incident can call BCSO at 541-766-0139.