Tragic 3-Vehicle Crash Near Silverton Claims One Life, Six Injured (UPDATED)

A family dog, a black & white Terrier, has been located, and has been returned to the family.

Photos by Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - The CRASH Team for the Marion County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene of a fatal 3-car crash on Silverton Road NE & 81st Avenue NE, about 3 miles west of the town of Silverton this evening.

Deputies received the first calls of a crash at about 5:00pm, Saturday. There were three trucks involved in this crash. Deputies arrived to find one truck on its side and fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Silverton Fire Department & the Marion County Fire District worked together to extinguish the flames.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2001 Ford F350 was stopped at the stop sign on 81st Avenue at Silverton Road. The 17-year old driver turned right onto Silverton Road in front of a 2007 Nissan Frontier that was traveling eastbound on Silverton.

The Nissan struck the rear of the Ford, then both vehicles careened into the westbound lane of Silverton Road and struck a 2007 Toyota Tacoma head-on. The Nissan came to rest on its side and caught fire.

Police say the 36-year old female driver of the Nissan was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the sole occupant of her vehicle. The Medical Examiner's Office assisted at the scene.

The 33-year old male driver of the Toyota sustained serious injuries. A life-flight helicopter transported him to Emanuel Hospital in Portland. His 32-year old wife and two children were transported to Salem Hospital for treatment.

The family's dog, which had been kenneled in the bed of the truck, was not found after the crash and is still missing. The dog is described as a black & white Terrier.

The driver of the Ford and his 13-year old sister were treated and released at Silverton Hospital.

The names of the drivers and passengers are being withheld at this time. Consistent with HIPAA regulations, no further information will be released by this Office regarding their conditions, unless the parties authorize the Sheriff's Office to do so.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No citations were issued and no arrests have been made at this time. The CRASH Team expects the report, which will include a forensic reconstruction, to be completed within 2-3 weeks. Officers from the Keizer & Woodburn Police Departments also serve on the multi-agency CRASH team. They are assisting in this investigation.

Identities of the parties, will be issued once family notifications are made. Chaplains from the Crisis Chaplaincy Services are making the family contacts.

****************UPDATE*****************
The identities of the victims involved in the fatal crash on Silverton Road NE Saturday afternoon are:
Brandi L. Tippett, 36, of Keizer. She was the driver of the Nissan Frontier, and a Registered Nurse at Silverton.
Hospital. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
David J. Lanier, 33, of Silverton. He was the driver of the Toyota Tacoma.
Lindsey D. Lanier, 32, front seat passenger in the Toyota
Chayse Lanier, 10, rear seat passenger
Tristin Lanier, 12, rear seat passenger
Joseph R. Schmidt, 17, of Salem. He was the driver of the Ford F350
Olivia I. Schmidt, 13, passenger

As deputies were about to leave the scene last night, the dog belonging to the Lanier family was spotted near the crash site. He was returned to the family; he had no apparent injuries.

Photos by Marion County Sheriff's Office