West Linn Teens Die in Head On Crash With Semi

Victims Identified in Double Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 97 north of Klamath Falls.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.) - Two West Linn-area teenagers died Saturday afternoon when their sport utility vehicle crash head-on with a commercial truck on Highway 97 about fifteen miles north of Klamath Falls.

Oregon State Police Spokesman Greg Hastings says it happened at 4:20 PM. A 2005 Freightliner truck towing a flatbed semi-trailer carrying steel driven by 55-year old Richard D. Burroughs of Springfield, was proceeding northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 260 when a 1993 Toyota 4Runner with two male occupants veered into the northbound lane.

Hastings says Burrounghs steered to the left to avoid the Toyota 4Runner at about the same time it veered back toward the southbound lane. Both vehicles collided head-on in the northbound lane.

The two occupants of the Toyota 4Runner were pronounced deceased at the scene. Both were using safety restraints. They are identified as driver 18-year old Daniel D. Sawyer and passenger, 17-year old Thomas Earhardt. Both are from West Linn. Information indicates they were enroute to California to visit one of the victim's relatives.

Burroughs was reportedly not injured but was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls for an examination.

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Oregon State Police troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

Hastings says information does indicate that the Toyota 4Runner had been stopped and cited by an Oregon State Police trooper about two hours before the fatal crash on Highway 58 for Exceeding the Posted Speed Limit to wit: 73 mph in a 55 mph speed zone.

The area where the crash occurred is a two-lane highway with one lane in both directions. The southbound lane and part of the northbound lane was closed about 4.5 hours during the investigation.

ODOT, Klamath County Fire District #1, and Chiloquin Fire District assisted at the scene. Source: Oregon State Police