Police Release Photo From Fatal Crash Near Monmouth

The crash claimed the life of a Dallas man, the semi-truck driver received minor injuries.

Photo of scene: Oregon State Police

(MONMOUTH, Ore.) - One person was killed and another received minor injuries in a traffic crash that involved a pickup and a commercial truck Wednesday morning on Highway 99W about four miles south of Monmouth. Police say the victim who died is 25-year old Nicholas Larry-Lee Faas of Dallas.

According to Oregon State Police Sergeant Kevin Delgrande, shortly after 11:00 AM yesterday morning, a 1994 Toyota pickup driven by Mr. Faas was northbound on Highway 99W near milepost 66 passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone.

"The pickup collided with a southbound Mack truck pulling a loaded chip trailer. After impact, the truck came to rest in a field off the east side of the highway and the pickup came to rest on the northbound shoulder."

Delgrande says Mr. Faas was pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators advise he attended Oregon State University.

The truck's driver, 49-year old Bernard Mello of McMinnville, received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a Corvallis hospital. OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Polk County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Fire District, and ODOT assisted at the scene. The highway was closed for about four hours with a detour established around the scene.