Dayton Woman Dies in Crash on Highway 99W

Witnesses said one car was being operated at a high rate of speed when it lost control, crossed the grass center median and became airborne.

Photo of crash scene: Oregon State Police

(DUNDEE, Ore.) - A Dayton-area woman died Sunday afternoon when her car was struck by another vehicle that crossed the center grass median on Highway 99W between Dundee and Newberg.

Police say a third vehicle was also involved and investigators believe alcohol and speed were possible contributing factors in the deadly crash.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Brad Hessel says it happened at approximately 3:05 PM, when a 1994 Ford Taurus four-door driven by 26-year old Leonel Zurita Loeza of southwest Portland, was northbound on Highway 99W near milepost 25.

"According to witnesses, the Ford was being operated at a high rate of speed when it lost control and crossed the grass center median where it became airborne and crashed into a southbound 2000 Toyota Avalon four-door." Hessel says that after the initial impact, the Ford collided with a southbound 2003 Toyota Corolla four-door with four occupants.

The Toyota's driver, 51-year old Carma Colleen Smith of Dayton, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Hessel says Loeza and his two passengers received serious injuries. Loeza was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. One passenger, 21-year old Izquierdo L. Jonatan of Beaverton, was transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University. Another passenger in the car, 31-year old Nicholas Contreras of Beaverton, was transported by ground ambulance to Newberg Providence Hospital.

The driver of the third car involved in the crash, 57-year old Steven J. Marcaccini of Aurora, was not injured. Traveling with him were two female passengers and one male passenger. They were not injured.

Police are not sure at this point if the various drivers and passengers were wearing safety restraints.

OSP troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office are continuing the investigation with assistance of an OSP crash reconstructionist and the Yamhill County District Attorney's Office. Members of the Multi-Agency Traffic Team comprised of officers from Newberg, Dundee, Carlton, and Yamhill County Sheriff's Office are also assisting. Dundee Fire & Rescue and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 99W was re-opened around 8:15 PM.