Boy, 5, killed, five injured in crash N. of Madras

A 5-year-old boy was thrown from an SUV and suffered fatal injuries when a Warm Springs man apparently ran a stop sign and struck a car north of Madras late Monday afternoon, Jefferson County sheriff’s deouties said Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office is not releasing the child’s name, at the family’s request, said Capt. Marc Heckathorn.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Leroy Hicks Jr.., 51, of Warm Springs, was driving a 1984 Chevy 4×4 Suburban with three occupants, heading west on NW Gumwood Lane when he failed to stop at the intersection with Boise Drive and struck a southbound 2001 Ford Mustang driven by Colton Hemenway, 19, of Madras, who had one passenger in the car.

A witness to the crash stopped and attempted CPR on the boy, and advanced care was administered when fire and EMS personnel arrived, but they could not revive the child, Heckathorn said.

The sheriff’s office continues to actively investigate the crash, the captain said, with assistance from an Oregon State Police crash reconstructionist. All witnesses are cooperating with the investigation, he added.

The crash and investigation closed NW Boise Drive for about five hours.

The survivors were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Madras for treatment of “a multitude of injuries,” Heckathorn said late Monday night.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, Heckathorn said, adding that road conditions were dry and the sun was still out.

No arrests have been made or citations issued as the investigation is continuing, he said late Monday.

The sheriff’s office is the lead investigating agency, assisted by Oregon State Police, the county district attorney’s office, Jefferson County EMS, Warm Springs Fire and Safety, Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 and AirLink.