Editor's note
This story was updated at 10:45 p.m. Aug. 20, 2024, with new information about two dogs that were in one of the vehicles.
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This story was updated at 12:35 p.m. Aug. 21, 2024, with new information from the Benton County Sheriff's Office, including details of the crash and the identity of the victims.
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This story was updated at 3:49 p.m. Aug. 21, 2024.
A Highway 20 crash on Lilly Hill about 7 miles west of Philomath and 2 miles east of Blodgett claimed the lives of two individuals Tuesday afternoon, Philomath Fire and Rescue and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Lost in the crash were Anna Kelley, 31, of Waldport, and Shylene Olsen, 26, of Corvallis, BCSO reported Wednesday in a press release.
According to an investigation, Olsen was driving east on Highway 20 in a 2020 Hyundai Ionic when she crossed the center line and collided with a 2010 Toyota Highlander driven by Kelley that was headed west.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Benton County multi-agency crash team. Anyone with information or witnesses to the crash are asked to contact BCSO via email at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or through its tip line at 541-753-8477 (refer case No. 2024-2228).
Both drivers were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Emergency responders were dispatched at 3:35 p.m. and upon arrival found two vehicles with heavy damage situated on opposite sides of the road — one of which had caught on fire.
The driver of the Hyundai was pulled out of the vehicle by passersby, said Deputy Fire Chief Rich Saalsaa, who also handles public information officer duties for the district.
“The patient was found lifeless by Chief (Chancy) Ferguson and was triaged as deceased at the scene,” Saalsaa reported. “The vehicle was smoldering and had initially been extinguished by passersby using a fire extinguisher.”
Saalsaa said he then used a water extinguisher on the vehicle to ensure that it was out.
The Toyota’s driver was trapped in the wreckage with critical injuries. The woman’s two young children, ages 4 and 1, were removed by passersby.
Blodgett-Summit Rural Fire arrived with several personnel and took care of the children. Blodgett Chief Dave Feinberg assisted with extrication of the driver with Philomath’s engine crew, Saalsaa said.
A LifeFlight helicopter was dispatched to the crash along with two Corvallis Fire ambulances and that department’s EMS division chief, Mike Kissell. Oregon Department of Forestry personnel were at the site to assist with a landing zone for the helicopter. ODF had initially been dispatched because of the car fire potentially being situated near the forest.
“In the process of extrication, the female driver succumbed to her injuries,” Saalsaa reported. “LifeFlight was canceled. Corvallis units transported the children to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.”
Saalsaa said the children’s lives were saved by their car seats.
“The PFR engine crew assisted law enforcement by recovering the body of the female driver, which took well over an hour — such was the damage of the vehicle entrapping the victim,” Saalsaa said. “In all my years of responding to accidents, this was the most difficult technical extrication that I encountered.”
Highway 20 was closed for approximately three hours during the response and ensuing investigation.
BCSO thanked the Philomath Police Department, Philomath Fire and Rescue, ODOT, Oregon State Police, Willamette Valley First Responder Chaplains, Blodgett-Summit Fire, Corvallis Police Department and Corvallis Fire Department for their assistance with the incident.