Train-car crash kills two near Klamath Falls

Two Klamath Falls residents were killed and a third family member seriously injured late Tuesday morning when a freight train struck their SUV at a crossing south of Klamath Falls, Oregon State Police reported.

Troopers and emergency responders were dispatched to the crash, which was reported shortly before 11 a.m. on an access road off Highway 97 near Midland, said Lt. Gregg Hastings.

In updated information released Tuesday evening, OSP said a 1995 Jeep Cherokee driven by MacKenzie Conway, 33, was northbound on a gravel frontage road paralleling the railroad tracks beside Highway 97 near milepost 281.

Troopers said the Jeep attempted to cross the tracks at a marked railroad crossing and was struck in the passenger side by a northbound Union Pacific freight train.

The train pushed the Jeep off the tracks, where it overturned on its top before coming to rest. The train continued until its engineer brought it to a controlled stop about a mile from the railroad crossing, which troopers said is marked with signs but does not have crossing guards.

McKenzie Conway, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. His sister-in-law, Kalla Conway, 25, was thrown from the SUV and also died at the scene, they said.

Rear-seat passenger Nicholas Conway, 27, Kalla Conway’s husband, also was thrown from the Jeep and seriously injured, troopers said.

However, he was able to walk across Highway 97 to the Midland Family Market, where bystanders helped him until medical and police responders arrived. He was then taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls.

No other injuries were reported.

OSP troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Recruit Trooper Thomas Andreazzi is the lead investigator.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Union Pacific Railroad police and railroad officials, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsley Field Fire Department, Klamath County Fire District 1, and ODOT.