One killed in crash on icy Hwy. 26 near Warm Springs

One person was killed and several others escaped serious injuries in a pair of crashes, one head-on, Saturday night on icy Highway 26 on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, shutting the highway for about nine hours, authorities reported Monday.

Warm Springs police received a report shortly after 7 p.m. of a crash on the highway near milepost 77, near Beaver Creek, said Stan Suenaga, public safety general manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs.

Officers determined a van heading east on the highway collided head-on with a westbound Ford pickup, Suenaga said. Minutes later, a semi truck also heading east on the highway struck the Ford pickup, whose driver, Tanner Weston of Prineville, had gotten out after the crash, a few minutes earlier, he told NewsChannel 21.

The van’s driver and lone occupant was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown through the van’s passenger-side window, Suenaga said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two vehicles had no passengers and no serious injuries were reported.

The victim’s name has not been released, pending family notifications, Suenaga said. Highway 26 was closed for the investigation, reopening at 4 a.m.

Weston said he was going 25 to 30 mph on a trip to Portland when the van “hit me head-on at about 55-60 because he was sliding on the black ice.” After he got out, the semi hit his pickup and dragged it 100 yards down the road.

“I really didn’t even hurt, except my shoulder,” Weston said. “I’m very lucky.”

He said his wife was in a second car ahead of him and turned around after the crash. He said she attempted to revive the man, “but it was too late.”

Weston said his German shepherd, Sammy, ran toward the east after the crash and OSP troopers were unable to catch it. He asked anyone who finds his dog to contact OSP, who can get in touch with him at 541-233-7856 or contact State Police.

Another frightening crash occurred in the same area Saturday night, sending a car into Beaver Creek, where it landed in the water upside-down.

Bend resident John Frey told NewsChannel 21 on Monday that he and his girlfriend were heading to Portland when they hit the black ice. He said his car slide into the other lane, went perpendicular, then went into the water beside the road.

“We landed perfectly upon our roof in the creek, which was terrifying,” Frey said.

He said he and his girlfriend were able to open one of the car’s doors to get out. They flagged downa passing motorist to get a ride to Madras.

Frey said his girlfriend went to the hospital with a neck sprain, but that they were both very lucky.