OSP identifies La Pine man killed in Hwy. 97 crash
A 40-year-old La Pine man was killed Sunday afternoon when a semi-truck driver lost control on icy Highway 97 and his rig slid into the oncoming lane, hitting a pickup and SUV, Oregon State Police said Monday.
Troopers and emergency personnel responded around 2:45 p.m. to the reported crash on Highway 97 near milepost 161, at Paulina Lake Road, said OSP Lt. Cari Boyd.
A preliminary investigation found a red 2015 Peterbilt semi-truck and trailer driven by Arthur Rambo, 29, of Sacramento, was heading north when he lost control on the ice and collided with two southbound cars, first a maroon 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup and the second a white Nissan Xterra. All three vehicles came to rest on the road’s southbound shoulder, Boyd said.
The Xterra’s driver, Derek Tedrow of La Pine, was pronounced dead at the scene, Boyd said. The pickup’s driver, Samuel Colee, 33, of Eugene, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.
Rambo and the truck’s passenger, Goodwin Eze, 43, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, were unhurt in the crash, Boyd said.
Anyone who witnessed or has new information about the crash was asked to call or text OSP Senior Trooper Jason Hansen at 541-410-3793.
The crash and investigation closed the highway for four hours, until on traffic lane was opened, in alternating directions.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, La Pine Rural Fire District and Oregon Deaprtment of Transportation assisted OSP at the scene.
