Three People Including a State Police Trooper receive Minor Injuries in Crash South of Chiloquin

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(CHILOQUIN) - Three people, including an Oregon State Police trooper, received minor injuries Wednesday night during a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 about five miles south of Chiloquin. The crash investigation is continuing.

Wednesday at approximately 9:10 PM, Oregon State Police Trooper Tyler Lee was responding to a reported domestic disturbance call north of Chiloquin along Highway 97 near milepost 237.

Trooper Lee, operating a marked 2001 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car without emergency equipment activated, was northbound near milepost 254 north of Day School Road when his patrol car crashed into the back of a northbound 2005 Isuzu truck.

After impact, the Isuzu truck went off the east side of the highway and overturned on its top coming to rest about 50 feet from the road. The patrol car spun around and came to rest facing south in the northbound lane.

Trooper Lee was using safety restraints and the car's airbag deployed. He was able to get out and check on the two occupants of the Isuzu truck who both received minor injuries.

Trooper Lee also received a minor injury and was later transported by OSP to Merle West Medical Center where he was treated and released.

The driver of the Isuzu truck, 24-year old Jason O. Land of Klamath Falls, was using safety restraints. He was extricated from the truck by Chiloquin Fire Department personnel and transported to Merle West Medical Center with minor injuries. His passenger, 19-year old Jonathan R. Saxton of Klamath Falls, was using safety restraints, received minor injuries and was transported to Merle West Medical Center. Both were treated and released.

The truck, registered to Bedroom Gallery in Klamath Falls, contained some furniture items that were enroute for delivery to the Chiloquin area.

Two Klamath County Sheriff's Deputies were enroute to the Chiloquin area at the time of the crash on an unrelated call. The deputies responded to the crash scene to assist.

Trooper Lee, age 27, has been with OSP for two years and is assigned to the Klamath Falls Area Command office in the Patrol Services Division. At the time of the crash, he was the only OSP trooper on duty out of the Klamath Falls office.

Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation with the assistance of Klamath Falls Sheriff's Office and Klamath Falls Police Department. ODOT assisted with traffic control at the scene.