Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Oregon State Police. All crashes with fatalities may not be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation.
MONDAY, JUNE 30
• 8:59 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 near Sisters that took the life of Randolf Lee Burghart, 63 of St. Helens. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Burghart was driving east on Highway 20 about 2 miles east of Sisters in a Subaru Outback when for unknown reasons, he left the roadway, struck and bounced off a guardrail, crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with a tree. Burghart was declared deceased at the scene.
TUESDAY, JULY 1
• 3:49 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 140 near Lakeview that took the life of Nicholas Cardoza, 61, of Lakeview. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a 48-year-old man from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was driving west on Highway 140 in a Mercedes Sprinter van and entered an intersection with a southbound Kenworth truck towing double trailers driven by Cardoza. According to the report, Cardoza swerved to avoid a collision with the van, left the roadway and rolled over. Cardoza was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was not injured.
Nick Cardoza was a really nice extreme cool individual and an excellent driver, the accident happened at the intersection of Oregon-140 and US-395 six miles north of the town of Lakeview where you come to a stop sign when coming off OR-140 and turn south down US-395 Six miles to continue on
OR-140 in the town of Lakeview so this intersection is in the middle of nowhere but before you get to the stop sign, at least a half mile before you start going over grooved pavement that causes noticeable vibration and noise to make you aware of the upcoming stop sign. Sense the driver of the van was arrested for the incident I imagine it will come out in court why he somehow wasn’t aware of the upcoming stop.
What we do seem to know is that the guy from Tulsa is alive because of Nicks actions to avoid hitting the van and those actions are what caused Nick to leave the road and cause his death. Nick saved this man’s life and it cost him his own life so that makes Nick a Hero and he will be greatly missed in the community of Lakeview and my prayers go out to the Cardoza family.