Update: Names Released - Double Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 22 west of Dallas in Polk County

OSP troopers from the Salem and McMinnville offices are investigating along with collision reconstructionists from OSP and Keizer Police Department.

Photograph - Oregon State Police

(DALLAS) - Oregon State Police (OSP), with the assistance of Polk County District Attorney's Office and Keizer Police Department, are continuing the investigation into the cause of a Friday evening two vehicle double fatal traffic crash along Highway 22 about three miles west of Dallas. The crash resulted in the death of two males and serious injuries to another male and a female. Names and other related information is released in this update.

On April 4, 2014 at approximately 7:04 p.m., OSP Northern Command Center dispatch received information from Polk County 9-1-1 of a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 22 near milepost 10 west of Van Well Road. OSP troopers, Polk County Sheriff's Office and Dallas Fire & Rescue responded to the scene and confirmed a head-on crash occurred between a 1995 Ford Ranger pickup and a 2011 Toyota RAV 4 sport utility vehicle. Both vehicles contained two occupants.

The male drivers of both vehicles were pronounced deceased at the scene. The adult male passenger in the pickup and an adult female passenger in the sport utility vehicle were both seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital.

The Ford Ranger pickup's occupants are identified as driver Cayden Thomas Fitch, age 18, and passenger/father Bryan Fitch, age 43, from Lincoln City. Bryan Fitch is employed as an Oregon State Police trooper out of the Newport Area Command office and was off duty traveling with his son when the crash occurred.

The Toyota RAV4 occupants are identified as driver Michael Joseph Moylett, age 69, and passenger/wife Estella Moylett, age 61, from Gresham.

Preliminary scene investigation indicates the Ford pickup was traveling eastbound when it pulled into the westbound lane to pass a vehicle and collided head-on with the Toyota RAV4. The area where the crash occurred is a two lane highway. The pickup came to rest across the center of the highway. The sport utility vehicle came to rest off the north side of the highway in bordering bushes and trees. All involved occupants were using safety restraints and both vehicles' airbags deployed.

OSP troopers from the Salem and McMinnville offices are investigating along with collision reconstructionists from OSP and Keizer Police Department. OSP requested Keizer Police Department provide the crash reconstruction report to the District Attorney's office when completed. The Polk County District Attorney and Polk County Medical Examiner responded to the scene.

The highway was closed for about six hours with a detour in place provided by ODOT.

"We speak often publicly about how families and friends are affected by motor vehicle collisions and that lives are forever impacted," said Superintendent Richard Evans. "Friday evening, two families and our Department are sadly experiencing such a loss. Please keep both families in your thoughts and prayers."

News Release from Oregon State Police