Madras man, 88, killed in two-vehicle crash at Highway 26 intersection, OSP reports

(Update: OSP provides crash details)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – An 88-year-old Madras man was killed Saturday morning in a crash on U.S. Highway 26 north of Madras when he turned his SUV into the path of a pickup truck at an intersection, Oregon State Police reported Monday.

The two-vehicle crash was reported around 9:10 a.m. on Highway 26 at the intersection with Northwest Columbia Drive, near milepost 112, about five miles north of Madras, officials said.

A preliminary OSP investigation indicated Robert Carroll Towler, 88, of Madras, driving a Ford Escape, was facing south on Columbia River at the stop sign.

OSP said Towler made a right-hand turn onto westbound Highway 26 and entered the path of a westbound GMC Sierra driven by a 59-year-old West Linn man.

The pickup struck the driver’s side door of the SUV as it entered the travel lane, OSP said. Towler died at the scene.

The other driver was not injured in the crash, but two of his passengers were taken to the hospital for reportedly minor injuries; a third passenger was uninjured.

“The cause of the crash is believed to be failing to yield the right of way when entering the highway,” OSP said in a news release.

 The crash closed Highway 26 for a time, and ODOT put a detour in place; the highway was affected for about 3 ½ hours.

OSP was assisted at the crash scene by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Fire & EMS, and ODOT.