UPDATE 2: Double Fatal Crash Blocks Highway 97 South of K.Falls
KLAMATH FALLS -- Two people were killed late Tuesday morning on Highway 97 south of Klamath
Falls in a collision between a commercial vehicle and sport utility
vehicle. The victims' names will be released later today to allow next
of kin more time to complete their notifications.
According to OSP Lt. Steve Nork, at 11:12 a.m. a 2004 Ford Explorer four-door driven by a
65-year-old woman was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 282 when,
for an unknown reason, it traveled across the paved center median area
in front of the Midland Rest Area and crashed into the rear dual wheels
of a semi-trailer. The impact tore the trailer's rear dual wheels off.
After impact the driver of the 2009 Freightliner truck, identified as
Gustavo Chang, 28, from La Puente, Calif., slowed to a stop
with the semi-trailer's rear section sliding on the pavement. The Ford
Explorer came to a stop in the middle of the highway.
Barbara Boice and her 70-year-old husband/passenger, John Allison Boice II, were pronounced deceased at the scene. Both were using safety restraints.
Chang and his passenger, Lydell Wilkerson, 33, from Delano,
Calif., were not injured. Chang was using safety restraints and
Wilkerson was in the truck's sleeper berth. They were driving for CRST
Trucking, transporting household goods.
OSP troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office are continuing the investigation.
California Highway Patrol officers, Merrill Police Department, Klamath
Falls Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. A Klamath Falls
Fire Department helicopter assisted with taking aerial photos of the
scene.
Oregon State Police troopers are still on scene investigating and
ODOT has a detour in place diverting traffic around the area. Traffic
updates may be checked on ODOT's Tripcheck site available here.
