Preliminary Information: Double Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 34 near Lebanon in Linn County

The highway was closed over four hours during the investigation.

(ALBANY, Or.) - Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into the cause of an early Saturday morning double fatal traffic crash involving two vehicles on Highway 34 west of Lebanon. The names of the four occupants in one of the vehicles will be released later pending confirmation of next of kin notifications for the two deceased victims.

Preliminary investigation indicates on April 5, 2014 at approximately 1:22 a.m., a passenger car driven by a female with three male occupants was eastbound on Highway 34 near milepost 17. For an unconfirmed reason, the passenger car traveled partially off the roadway onto the gravel shoulder and struck a mailbox. The car then slid sideways into the westbound lane where it was struck in the passenger side by a westbound 1996 Ford Thunderbird. Both vehicles came to rest blocking the westbound lane.

Lebanon Police Department, Lebanon Fire Department, Linn County Sheriff's Office, OSP and ODOT responded to the scene. The passenger car's female driver and right front male passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. Two rear seat male passengers were injured, one seriously and the other minor, and transported to area hospitals for treatment. The two deceased occupants and the passenger with minor injuries were using safety restraints. Safety restraint use by the seriously injured male passenger is pending further confirmation.

The Ford's driver, 29-year old Kenneth e. Henoey II of Albany, received minor injury and was taken by an OSP trooper to Lebanon Hospital. He was using safety restraints and was treated and released.

OSP troopers from the Albany Area Command office are continuing the investigation into the cause of the crash. Trooper Casey Hunter is the lead investigator.

The highway was closed over four hours during the investigation. No photographs to be released at this time.

News Release from Oregon State Police