Nyssa attorney killed in head-on crash en route to court hearing
BUCHANAN, Ore. -- A Nyssa-area attorney died Wednesday morning while driving to Burns for a hearing in Harney County Circuit Court when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a pickup pulling an empty livestock trailer on Highway 20 east of Burns.
At 7:18 AM Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers and area emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle head-on fatal crash on Highway 20 near milepost 155. Preliminary investigation indicates a westbound 2002 Ford Taurus driven by Charles Simmons, 32, from Ontario, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an eastbound 2002 Dodge 3500 pickup towing a livestock trailer. Following the collision, the Ford came to rest on the westbound shoulder. The pickup and trailer came to rest blocking both lanes of travel.
Simmons was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Dodge's driver, Sterling Wilson, 51, and passenger/wife Pamela Wilson, 51, from Burns, were transported by ambulance to Harney District Hospital with minor injuries.
All three individuals were wearing safety restraints and the airbags deployed in both vehicles.
SIMMONS worked as an attorney for Stunz, Fonda, Kiyuna & Horton LLP.
The highway was closed for about two hours while OSP troopers from the Burns work site conducted their on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted on scene by the Harney County Sheriff's Office, Harney EMS, Burns and Hines Fire Departments, and ODOT.
