Madras Speedway crash victim ID’d as 4-month-old girl

(Update: Child struck, killed was a 4-month-old girl from Oregon City)

The child who was struck and killed by a pickup truck at the Madras Speedway on Saturday night was identified by Jefferson County authorities Monday as a 4-month-old Oregon City girl.

District Attorney Steven Leriche said Dawsyn Rose Rhett sustained fatal injuries at the Madras Speedway Saturday night, was flown to Portland for medical treatment and died early Sunday at a Portland hospital.

Further details have not been released, as “the investigation of the baby’s death is in its early stages,” Leriche told NewsChannel 21.

“If anyone saw anything at the Madras Speedway regarding this baby and her caretakers, please contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office” at 541-475-6520.

On Sunday, Sheriff Jim Adkins said a deputy was working on the investigation of the crash, in which “a child did get run over.” Adkins said Monday the initial report had been turned over to Leriche’s office.

“It appears to be a tragic accident,” the sheriff told NewsChannel 21, adding that the “child died (Sunday) morning at about 12:20 a.m.” after being taken first to St. Charles Madras and later flown to a hospital in Portland.

Efforts to reach Madras Speedway officials for comment were not successful.

In a post Sunday evening to the sheriff’s office Facebook page, Adkins provided few other details, only that it involved “a very young child.” He later confirmed to NewsChannel 21 that the incident involved a pickup truck and not a car involved in racing.

“I’m not releasing a lot of information at this time, out of respect for the family members involved and out of the necessity to allow the investigation to progress as efficiently as possible, the sheriff wrote. “I can tell you the family who suffered this tragic loss are cooperating with the investigation.”

Adkins said he hopes to release more details later, “after investigators complete their investigation and after the district attorney reviews all our findings.”

“Please keep the family in your prayers,” the sheriff added. “Also, pray for the investigating deputy and for the ambulance and fire crews who were on scene and provided emergency medical care to the young child.”

We’ll have more details as they are released.