La Pine man killed in Highway 97 head-on collision of minivan, semi-truck
(Update: OSP releases crash details)
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fatal head-on crash on Highway 97 involving a minivan and semi-truck killed a La Pine man Thursday night. The crash investigation and removal of the vehicles closed the highway until midday Friday.
Oregon State Police released details Friday afternoon of the crash that occurred shortly before 9 p.m. near milepost 156, near Vandevert Road and about 12 miles north of La Pine.
A preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Dodge Caravan driven by the 25-year-old La Pine man crossed the center line and struck a northbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, driven by a 52-year-old man from Williams, Calif.
The collision caused both vehicles to become engulfed in flames and required local fire crews' efforts to extinguish the fires.
The minivan driver died at the scene, OSP said. The truck driver reportedly suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.
The highway was impacted for an extended period of time during the investigation and cleanup of the vehicles.
OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Sunriver Fire, Alfalfa Fire, La Pine Fire, and ODOT.
Earlier Friday, Oregon Department of Transportation Region 4 Public Information Officer Kacey Davey told KTVZ News, "There are some contracted crews there now cleaning up fluids from the vehicles (oil, etc). ODOT is providing traffic control and assisting with clean-up."
The highway closure and detour onto Vandevert Road made for some lengthy commutes Friday morning. One driver said her trip from La Pine to Bend, which normally takes about 40 minutes, took over two hours. Drivers also encountered smoke from a nearby prescribed burn.
