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.
SATURDAY, AUG. 17
• 10 a.m. — Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 about 4 miles north of Medford that took the life of Susan Dale O’Connell, 73, of Talent. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated O’Connell was driving a Toyota Corolla north on I-5 in the right lane when the vehicle slowed and then turned left in front of a Ford F350 that was traveling north in the left lane. The Ford’s driver, a 49-year-old Klamath Falls man, was unable to avoid the collision and struck the driver-side door of the Toyota. Upon impact, the front passenger tire of the Ford came loose and rolled northbound on I-5 striking a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 44-year-old Turlock, California, man on the rear driver side. O’Connell was declared deceased at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21
• 7:08 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 395C about 3 miles south of Seneca that took the life of Adam Garrett Jennings, 34, of Baker City. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Jennings was headed south in a Chevrolet Cavalier when he left the road while failing to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled along a gravel pullout before striking a large pine tree head-on. Jennings was declared deceased at the scene. OSP said he was not wearing a seatbelt.
• 6:58 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 197 about 9 miles south of The Dalles that took the life of Joshua Merle Thompson, 45, of Tygh Valley. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a 77-year-old Wamic man was headed south in a Dodge Ram when for an unknown reason crossed the center line and hit head-on a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Thompson. Thompson was declared deceased at the scene. The Dodge’s driver was transported with serious injuries via LifeFlight to a hospital. A passenger in the Dodge was transported via ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
THURSDAY, AUG. 22
• 5:26 a.m. — Troopers responded to a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 about 4 miles north of Woodburn that took the life of Kenneth Lee Whelchel, 31, of Dallas. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Volkswagen Golf driven by a 35-year-old Cascade Locks man was headed north on I-5 behind a Dodge pickup driven by a 59-year-old Salem man. For an unknown reason, the Volkswagen rear-ended the pickup at highway speeds. The pickup lost control and spun across travel lanes. A Nissan Altima, driven by a 30-year-old Albany woman, was behind the two vehicles and collided with the Dodge. Both the Dodge and Volkswagen continued across a cable barrier into I-5’s southbound lanes and a Ford Ranger driven by Whelchel was hit, lost control, crashed into a barrier and came to a stop about a quarter of a mile down the highway. Whelchel was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Volkswagen’s driver was transported to an area hospital via LifeFlight with serious injuries. The Dodge’s driver and Nissan’s driver sustained minor injuries.
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OTHER NEWS
The Oregon State Police is seeking witnesses to a serious injury crash that occurred at 6:55 a.m. July 25 at the intersection of Lafayette Highway and Amity Road in Yamhill County.
The collision involved a white Pontiac G6 traveling northbound on Highway 153 at Highway 154 that struck a southbound green Peterbilt semitruck. The Pontiac’s driver and a 3-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries.
OSP troopers are seeking witnesses to the crash and the driver of a white pickup traveling southbound in front of the semitruck. The Pontiac left its lane and made contact with the pickup. Troopers would also like to speak with a witness who pulled the child from the Pontiac following the crash.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Caleb Yoder through OSP’s Northern Command Center at 800-442-0776 and reference case number SP24-237776.