Highway 99W Three Vehicle Crash Involving Horse

The horse died from being struck by the vehicles

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

(JUNCTION CITY, Ore.) - Two people received minor injuries Friday night during two separate traffic crashes initiated when a horse from a nearby pasture wandered onto Highway 99W south of Junction City. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

According to OSP Trooper April Ratliff, on October 15, 2010 at approximately 10:18 p.m. a white 1988 Pontiac driven by Jacky Lee Gentry, age 59, from Harrisburg, was southbound on Highway 99W near milepost 111 when it struck a horse on the road. Despite major crush damage to the passenger compartment, Gentry was able to stop his car in the right southbound lane.

A second southbound vehicle, a black Ford Explorer driven by Shannon L. Baumgartuer, age 39, from Eugene, avoided hitting the horse after the first collision and stopped on the highway shoulder to help Gentry. Shortly after Baumgartuer stopped, a southbound green Ford pickup driven by Garrett Hightower, age 17, from Junction City, hit the horse, flipped onto its side and struck the Ford Explorer's driver side. The Ford pickup came to an uncontrolled stop on its top a short distance away from the Explorer.

Gentry and Hightower were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend with minor injuries. BAUMGARTUER was not injured. Safety restraint use information is not available for this release.

The horse died from being struck by the vehicles.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT and local emergency responding agencies. The southbound lanes were closed about one hour.

Information regarding the horse's owner or property from where it accessed the highway is also not available.

PHOTOS: Larger view of Pontiac | Rolled Ford | Damaged Ford Explorer

Source: Oregon State Police