Serious Injury Crash on Oregon Highway 18

The crash on Oregon Highway 18 at mile post 41, approximately 5 miles west of McMinnville has been cleared.

Photo of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - Three people were seriously injured Monday morning in a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 18 about four miles west of McMinnville. The highway was reopened about 1:30 PM.

Police say that at approximately 10:15 AM, a 2003 Hyundai Sante Fe sport utility vehicle driven by 76-year old Maudi Idzerda of Beaverton, was eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 41 when, for an unknown reason, it drifted onto the gravel shoulder.

Investigators say the Hyundai then came back across the highway and crashed head-on with a westbound 1996 Honda Civic driven by 37-year old Raymundo Martinez Lopez of Salem.

It is reported that Maudi Idzerda and her passenger/husband, 84-year old Aurelius Idaera, were seriously injured. Martinez Lopez was also seriously injured.

All three were transported by LifeFlight. Maudi Idzerda and Martinez Lopez were transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Aurelius Idaera was transported to Oregon Health Sciences University.

Everyone was using safety restraints and both vehicles' airbags deployed, police said.

Oregon State Police troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, McMinnville Police Department, McMinnville Fire Department, and ODOT are assisting.