Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 126W Near Mapleton

Oregon State Police troopers from the Springfield Area Command office and Florence work site are continuing the investigation.

Salem-News.com

(MAPLETON, Ore.) - One person died and three others were seriously or critically injured in a four-vehicle crash late Thursday afternoon on Highway 126W about seventeen miles east of Florence.

Investigators say that around 5:55 PM last night, a Kia Sedona van driven by 57-year old Vyrladean E. Jones of Florence, was westbound on Highway 126W near milepost 17 when, for an unknown reason, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an eastbound Honda sedan.

An eastbound Ford pickup driven by 36-year old Michael Anson Jr. of Leaburg, veered across the westbound lane to avoid the collision, traveled into and out of a ditch and collided with a westbound Nissan Xterra sport utility vehicle driven by 21-year old Charnae L. Little of Florence.

The Honda's driver, 73-year old Carol Suzanne Yorganson of Harrisburg, was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was using safety restraints.

The victim's daughter, 49-year Marta A. Barclay of Eugene, was in the right front passenger seat using safety restraints and was critically injured. She was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center. Barclay is employed with Lane County Sheriff's Office as a Communications/Records Supervisor.

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Vyrladean Jones was transported to Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence with serious injuries. The van's passenger, 81-year old Effie L. Jones of Florence, was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center with critical injuries. Both were using safety restraints and the van's airbags deployed.

Anson and Little were not injured. Oregon State Police troopers from the Springfield Area Command office and Florence work site are continuing the investigation.

ODOT, Lane County Sheriff's Office and fire personnel from Mapleton and Florence Fire Departments assisted at the scene. The highway has been closed about five hours.