Salem man dies in Hwy. 20E crash near Hampton

A 66-year-old Salem man was killed Tuesday night when his minivan left U.S. Highway 20E near Hampton, went into a ditch and rolled several times, Oregon State Police reported.

Troopers and other emergency responders were dispatched around 10:15 p.m. to the reported single-vehicle crash near milepost 66, about 65 miles southeast of Bend, OSP Lt. Steve Mitchell said.

A preliminary investigation found that John Ottlinger was heading west at the wheel of a Dodge Caravan when it left the road for unknown reasons and entered the westbound ditch, Mitchell said.

The lieutenant said Ottlinger then overcorrected and the van then crossed both travel lanes before going into the eastbound ditch and rolled several times.

Ottlinger, who was not wearing his seat belt, was thrown during the crash and suffered fatal injuries.

The crash and investigation closed Highway 20 for about 45 minutes, Mitchell said. OSP was assisted on the scene by bend Fire and REscue, as well as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.