Salem Woman Dies in Crash Near Klamath Falls

Marlene Ramsdell of Salem was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Semi truck involved in the fatal crash Photo: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem-area woman died early Tuesday morning when her vehicle was struck by a commercial truck while attempting to drive from the highway shoulder onto Highway 97 north of Klamath Falls.

Lieutenant Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police say that just before 1:00 AM this morning, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 47-year old Marlene C. Ramsdell of Salem, was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 270 when, for an unknown reason, it turned left into an Oregon Motel 8 parking lot and made a u-turn, stopping on the edge of the highway.

As Ms. Ramsdell attempted to cross the northbound lane to proceed southbound, her vehicle was struck in the driver's side by a 2001 Peterbilt semi truck driven by 60-year old Robert Alan Edwards of Sandy.

"Edwards braked in an apparent attempt to avoid the PT Cruiser, but after initial impact the PT Cruiser crossed in front of the truck and was again hit in the driver's side. The truck pushed the heavily damaged PT Cruiser off the west side of Highway 97."

Marlene Ramsdell was pronounced deceased at the scene. It is not clear whether or not she was wearing her seat belt and shoulder harness.

Edwards was not injured.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office are continuing the investigation into the cause of the crash. A crash reconstructionist from Klamath Falls Police Department (KFPD) is assisting. ODOT, KFPD and Klamath Falls Fire District #1 assisted at the scene. The highway was closed about three hours.