OSP IDs Redmond man killed, two family members injured in five-vehicle crash on icy Hwy. 97 in Jefferson County
(Update: OSP releases names, details in fatal crash)
TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Redmond man was killed and two family members injured in a five-vehicle crash on icy Highway 97 in Jefferson County early Monday morning, Oregon State Police said Tuesday. It began when one semi-truck struck the rear of another that slid into the oncoming lane, where it was struck by two pickup trucks.
OSP troopers responded around 4:15 a.m. to the crash on Highway 97 near milepost 107.5, about nine miles north of Terrebonne, troopers said.
A preliminary investigation found that two commercial motor vehicles were heading south on the icy highway when the trailing semi hit the rear of the lead CMV, OSP said.
That caused the lead semi’s trailer to slide sideways into the northbound lanes, where an oncoming red Toyota Tacoma driven by Felipe Gamboa-Lupercio, 55, of Terrebonne man, and a white Tacoma driven by a 52-year-old Terrebonne man struck the sliding trailer. A third northbound pickup, a GMC Sierra, driven by a 60-year-old Terrebonne man, then struck the other two pickups as well, troopers said.
The rear passenger of the red Tacoma, Jose Refugio Gamboa-Lupercio, 57, of Redmond, died at the crash scene, OSP said. The pickup's driver, Felipe Gamboa-Lupercio, and front passenger Genaro Gamboa-Lupercio, 62, of Redmond, were injured and taken to the hospital.
The drivers of the two semi-trucks and the other two pickups were reportedly not injured, OSP said. The crash and investigation closed the highway and impacted travelers for about five hours.
“The primary factors contributing to this crash are considered roadway conditions and speed,” OSP said.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by Jefferson County Fire & EMS, the Madras Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.
The fatal crash occurred as another round of snowfall made for more slick streets and crashes around the region.
ODOT reported at 7 a.m. that the crash had closed Highway 97 at milepost 107.5, south of Juniper Butte and north of Southwest Juniper Lane. The highway was reopened just before 9 a.m., according to ODOT Public Information Officer Julie Denney.
"Additional vehicles crashed in the area," Denney said, amid "reports of low visibility and black ice in the area."
Crashes and slide-offs reported around the area Monday morning, including a crash at NE Third Street and Franklin Avenue in Bend, and dispatchers reported numerous fender-benders. Follow traffic updates on our ODOT TripCheck page.
