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.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
• 5:48 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 18 near Bellevue in Yamhill County that took the life of Philip Andrew Estes, 61, of Lincoln City. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Estes was driving a westbound Chevrolet Silverado near Southwest Oldsville Road when it left the lane of travel for an unknown reason. The vehicle entered the westbound ditch, struck a culvert and rolled over. Estes was ejected from the vehicle and declared deceased at the scene.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
• 4:33 p.m. — Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 39 and South Sixth Street in Klamath Falls that took the life of Sebastian Bufardeci Jr., 75, of Klamath Falls. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Bufardeci was driving a westbound Jeep Grand Cherokee on South Sixth Street near Wiard Street when it veered into the turn lane for an unknown reason. The Jeep clipped the driver side of a westbound Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 45-year-old Klamath Falls man. The Jeep then continued into the eastbound travel lane and collided head-on with an eastbound Toyota Tundra driven by a 33-year-old Klamath Falls man. Bufardeci was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Toyota’s driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
FRIDAY, MAY 15
• 12:31 p.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 82 east of Elgin that took the life of a 17-year-old La Grande boy. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that the teen was driving a westbound Toyota Highlander on the eastbound shoulder of Highway 82 near Elgin for unknown reasons. The vehicle left the highway and rolled multiple times before the driver was ejected from the vehicle. The driver, the vehicle’s lone occupant, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver is not believed to have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
• 1:47 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 30 near Columbia City that took the life of Gary Michael George, 69, of Rainier. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that George was driving an eastbound Nissan Pathfinder when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a loaded semitruck driven by a 36-year-old Auburn, Washington, man. The Nissan was reported to have been observed passing traffic in the oncoming travel lane prior to the crash. George was pronounced deceased at the scene. The truck driver was not injured. He remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.
SATURDAY, MAY 16
• 4:14 a.m. — Troopers responded to a vehicle-pedestrian crash on Highway 97 north of Klamath Falls that took the life of Modoc Shadley, 18, of Klamath Falls. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a southbound semitruck driven by a 43-year-old Yreka, California, man was traveling near Klamath Falls when it struck Shadley in the roadway. Shadley is reported to have been wearing dark clothing and walking in the southbound travel lane for an unknown reason. Shadley was pronounced deceased at the scene. The truck driver was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.
SUNDAY, MAY 17
• 1:11 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 126 west of Redmond that took the life of Lee Glenn Bernard, 63, of Lebanon. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Bernard was driving an eastbound Chevrolet Silverado when it crossed into the westbound travel lane for an unknown reason. A westbound Subaru Outback driven by a 77-year-old Redmond man attempted to avoid the Chevrolet; however, the two vehicles collided head-on. Bernard was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Chevrolet, a 66-year-old Lebanon woman, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The Subaru’s driver was also transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.