Head-on crash near Astoria kills Washington woman

ASTORIA, Ore. -- A Long Beach, Wash., woman died Tuesday morning when her car collided head-on with a pickup while attempting to pass another vehicle on the flat stretch of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into the crash that left the other driver seriously injured.

At 11:35 a.m. a rented 2008 Saturn four-door driven by KATHLEEN ANN BROCK, age 51, from Long Beach, Wash., was southbound on Highway 101 near milepost 3 reportedly at a high rate of speed when she attempted to pass a witness driving a vehicle pulling a trailer.  As the Saturn was alongside the other vehicle it was attempting to pass, it collided head-on with a northbound 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by HERBERT LESLIE GOEBEL, age 57, from Vancouver, Wash.

BROCK was pronounced deceased at the scene.  She was not using safety restraints and the car's airbags deployed.

GOEBEL was using safety restraints and suffered serious injuries.  He was transported by Medix ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria then transferred by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.  His pickup's airbags deployed.

OSP troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation.  The roadway at the crash scene is straight and level with unobstructed views in both directions.  Conditions were described as clear.

Astoria Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene.  Highway 101 on the bridge was closed about four hours.