Portland woman killed in U-turn crash on Highway 20 in Tumalo; 2 others injured

(Update: OSP provides details on fatal crash; family says driver recently moved to Redmond)

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Portland woman suffered fatal injuries and two other people were injured late Friday afternoon when she made a U-turn in the middle of Highway 20 at Cook Avenue in Tumalo and was struck by a Redmond man’s pickup truck, Oregon State Police reported Monday.

Troopers and other first responders were called around 4:25 p.m. to the two-vehicle crash on Highway 20 near milepost 15.

A preliminary investigation found that Janet Diane Abelein, 68, of Portland, was at the wheel of a Subaru Forester heading east on Highway 20 in Tumalo when she made a U-turn in the middle of the highway, OSP said. Family member said the woman recently moved to Redmond.

The SUV was hit in T-bone fashion by a Ford F-350 driven by a 46-year-old Redmond man, who also was heading east, troopers said.

Abelein was taken to St. Charles Bend, where she later was declared deceased, troopers said. The other driver and Abelein’s passenger, a 65-year-old Portland man, also were injured and taken to the hospital.

The crash and investigation closed the highway for about an hour. The intersection has been part of a construction project for a new roundabout in recent months.

During the closure, ODOT advised motorists to use alternate routes. The highway was open again by about 5:15 p.m.