Two drivers killed in head-on crash on Highway 97 north of Madras

(Update: Two drivers killed in crash; highway partly reopens)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two drivers were killed Tuesday morning in a head-on collision of a pickup and a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 97 in the Cow Canyon area north of Madras, closing the highway for five hours, authorities said.

Oregon State Police troopers responded around 8:45 a.m. to the crash near milepost 73 on the highway, about six miles south of the junction with U.S. Highway 197.

An investigation determined a southbound silver Dodge pickup with cab-over camper, driven by William Robinson, 74, of Wasilla, Alaska, crossed into the northbound lanes “for an unknown reason” and collided with a commercial truck driven by Ronald Sims, 25, of Redmond, OSP Captain Tim Fox said.

Both drivers sustained fatal injuries in the crash, which closed the highway for about five hours, until the southbound lane reopened in the early afternoon and the northbound lane before 3:30 p.m. Track updates on our ODOT TripCheck page.

Jefferson County Sheriff Marc Heckathorn said the sheriff’s office was assisting OSP and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, and that an air ambulance was summoned. He and ODOT urged motorists to avoid the area due to the extensive closure.