Near head-on crash takes one life and closes the highway for almost six hours.
(WILLAMINA, Ore.) - One person died and three others, all Willamina High School students, were injured Wednesday morning during a crash involving their pickup and a commercial truck on Highway 22 about one mile west of Valley Junction.
About 8:36 AM today, a Ford Ranger extended cab pickup driven by 18-year old Anthony Thomas Gorretta, from Grand Ronde, was eastbound on Highway 22 negotiating a right curve when it lost control and crossed the center line, according to Oregon State Police.
Speed is being investigated as a possible contributing factor.
The pickup collided with a westbound commercial truck driven by 38-year old Raybon Dean Thompson, from Cloverdale.
Thompson was using safety restraints and was not injured.
The pickup's right rear passenger, 18-year old Tamara L. Coila, was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was using safety restraints. Coila reportedly attended Canby High School before entering Willamina High School for her senior year.
Anthony Gorretta was transported by ground ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville where he was treated and released for minor injuries. He was using safety restraints.
Right front passenger, 14-year old Vincent Gorretta, was transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University with serious injuries. He was using safety restraints.
Left rear passenger, 17-year old Jeff Haggard, from Grand Ronde, was transported by REACH air ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. He was using safety restraints.
OSP troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office are continuing the investigation. No enforcement action has been taken.
ODOT, West Valley Fire & Rescue, and Sheridan Fire Department assisted at the scene. Highway 22 was closed until about 1:30 PM.
Willamina High School Student Killed and Three Injured in CrashSalem-News.com