Klamath Falls woman, 18, killed, four people injured in head-on crash on Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass

(Update: OSP identifies crash victims, says speed was 'primary contributing factor')

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – An 18-year-old Klamath Falls woman was killed and four people were injured Tuesday when she drove her Tesla into the oncoming lane of U.S. Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass and struck a Jeep head-on, Oregon State Police reported Wednesday.

OSP troopers and other agencies responded to the crash, reported shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday near milepost 82 in Jefferson County, two miles east of the Santiam Pass summit, officials said.

A preliminary investigation indicated Scarlett Jewell Felder, 18, of Klamath Falls, was driving an eastbound Tesla Model S when she crossed into the oncoming lanes and collided head-on with a westbound Jeep Wagoneer driven by a 65-year-old Naples, Florida man, troopers said.

The Jeep driver “attempted to avoid the collision by moving into the slow lane but was unable to do so,” OSP said in a Wednesday news release.

Felder died at the crash scene, troopers said.

The Jeep driver suffered reportedly minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Three passengers in the Jeep – two West Linn residents and a woman from San Diego – had reportedly minor to moderate injuries and also were transported for treatment.

“Speed is considered the primary contributing factor to the crash,” OSP said.

The highway was closed or limited for about 3 ½ hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP said it was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Black Butte Ranch and Sisters fire departments, Black Butte Ranch Police and ODOT.