Update: Young Hwy. 20 crash victims doing well
Four people were injured, including two young children, in a two-car crash on U.S. Highway 20 west of Santiam Pass Sunday afternoon that brought out two air ambulances and closed the rain-slick road for a time, Oregon State Police reported.
The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. in the Hogg Rock area near milepost 78, about three miles west of Santiam Pass two miles west of Hoodoo Ski Area and east of the Santiam Junction with Oregon Highway 126 in Linn County.
OSP Lt. Bill Fugate said initial reports indicated the driver of a black 2006 Scion, Kara J. Smith, 31, of Redmond, was heading east when she lost control on a sweeping curve.
The Scion crossed the center line and into the path of an oncoming blue 2009 Ford Flex wagon driven by Gail W. Hayes, 73 of Salem. The Ford struck the Scion in “T-bone” fashion and both cars came to rest in the westbound lanes, Fugate said.
Two children riding in the Scion were taken by ambulance to the Black Butte Ranch ball field, then by AirLink and Life Flight helicopters to St. Charles Bend, Fugate said. The helicopters did not fly to the crash scene due to the low cloud cover and weather conditions, officials said.
Fugate said Monday that the children’s mother said they had had minor, non-life-threatening injuries. One had a broken ankle but was expected to make a full recovery.
Smith and Hayes’ passenger, Jean Hayes, were in fair condition Sunday night at the Bend hospital, a house supervisor said.
An off-duty OSP trooper assigned to the Salem Area Command stopped at the crash scene and rendered medical aid, Fugate said.
A third car, a Toyota Corolla, slid off the road as it encountered the crash, he added.
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Fire and Police and ODOT crews also responded to the crash.
Fugate said light rain was falling on the wet highway at the time of the crash. The highway was closed in both directions for a short period, causing traffic backups, but one lane was opened shortly after.
Fugate said the investigation was continuing and more information would be released as available.
