THURSDAY, APRIL 30
• 7:29 p.m. — A two-vehicle crash on Highway 26 near Sandy resulted in the death of Christopher James Hamre, 42, of Redmond. According to the Oregon State Police (OSP), an eastbound Toyota Tacoma, driven by an 18-year-old from Whitefish, Montana, crossed into the westbound lane after the driver fell asleep, colliding head-on with a westbound Subaru Outback operated by a 45-year-old Redmond woman. Hamre, a passenger in the Subaru, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Subaru driver was transported via Life Flight to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, while the Tacoma driver was uninjured and remained at the scene.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
• 5:44 p.m. — A head-on collision on Highway 20 northwest of Sweet Home claimed the life of Karen Gail Ramirez, 69, of Sweet Home. OSP reported that a westbound Jeep Wrangler, driven by Mariah Darlene Lopez, 30, of Sweet Home, crossed into the eastbound lane and struck Ramirez’s Kia Forte. Ramirez was ejected and died at the scene. Lopez sustained minor injuries and was arrested for second-degree manslaughter; she was lodged at the Linn County Jail post-hospital release. Witnesses to the incident are urged to contact OSP.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
• 1:54 p.m. — A three-vehicle crash on Highway 126 east of Florence resulted in the death of Brandon Taylor Oetken, 38, of Florence. OSP’s investigation revealed that a Volvo stopped to turn left and was rear-ended by a motorcycle ridden by Oetken, who was thrown from the bike. A second motorcycle then collided with Oetken’s. He was pronounced dead at the scene; the second motorcycle rider sustained serious injuries. The Volvo driver was also taken to a hospital for precautionary treatment.
• 4:17 p.m. — A crash on Highway 20 east of Santiam Junction resulted in the death of Kevin Allen Cloud, 65, of Scio. OSP stated Cloud was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he attempted to pass and collided head-on with a Kia Sedona driven by a 49-year-old Bend woman. Cloud was transported by Life Flight but died shortly after arrival at the hospital. The Kia driver reported minor injuries.
TUESDAY, MAY 5
• 4:48 p.m. — A vehicle-pedestrian incident on Highway 99W south of Junction City resulted in the death of Joel Robert Benjamin Coriell, 35, of Junction City. OSP indicated that a 16-year-old girl driving a Hyundai Elantra became distracted and struck Coriell, who was walking along the highway. Coriell later died at a hospital; the teenage driver sustained minor injuries and cooperated with the investigation.
• 10:24 p.m. — A vehicle-pedestrian crash on Highway 97 west of Shaniko took the life of Lutah Avis Wallulatum, 42, of Warm Springs. According to OSP, a southbound Peterbilt truck struck Wallulatum, who was walking in the travel lane. She was later hit by a second vehicle. The truck driver was uninjured and remained on scene. OSP is seeking witnesses from the area who may have seen pedestrians or reported striking an animal during that timeframe.