Holiday Weekend Off to Bad Start on Oregon Roadways

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Four people have died on Oregon roadways since Friday.

Oregon State Police say fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian crash happened on Interstate 5 northbound at the Phoenix interchange near milepost 24. Traffic early Saturday morning was diverted off and back onto freeway at the interchange.

A 59-year old man operating a BMW motorcycle east bound on Silverton Road Saturday crashed at approximately 6:47 PM in the 5700 Block of Silverton Road NE.

Investigators say he was attempting to pass two other vehicles also east bound on Silverton Rd. As he was passing the first vehicle turned left attempting to enter a driveway on the north side of Silverton Rd. The Motorcycle was not able to avoid a collision with the vehicle turning in front of him.

The Motorcycle driver was transported to Salem Hospital where he died from his injuries. No one else was injured in the collision. His name is being with held pending notification of next of kin. The investigation continuing.

One person died Friday afternoon when her vehicle drove off Highway 199 about twelve miles south of Grants Pass and crashed into several trees.

OSP says just before 3:00 PM, a 1998 Subaru Legacy station wagon driven by 50-year-old Rhonda Omdahl, from Wilderville, was northbound on Highway 199 near milepost 12 negotiating a left hand corner when it left the east side of the highway. The Subaru traveled down a short embankment and collided with several trees.

Omdahl was pronounced deceased at the scene. OSP said she was not using safety restraints.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Grants Pass office are completing the investigation.

The cause of the crash has not been determined.

Also on Friday, one person died and another received non-life threatening injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash Friday evening on Highway 18 in the area of the interchange for the west McMinnville bypass.

OSP says just after 7:00 PM a 1991 Mazda Miata driven by 59-year-old Rodger Clay, from northeast Portland, was eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 44.5 when, for an unknown reason, it crossed into the westbound lane.

An uninvolved westbound pickup avoided the Mazda but another westbound vehicle,

a 2000 Ford Explorer, was unable to avoid the passenger car and they crashed head-on.

Clay was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints and an airbag reportedly deployed.

The driver of the Ford Explorer, 30-year-old Jamie Bansen, from McMinnville, was using safety restraints and received non-life threatening injuries.

She was transported by ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville.

Her vehicle's airbag deployed.

Oregon State Police troopers from the McMinnville Area Command are continuing the investigation.