Terrebonne man killed in Highway 20 crash on New Year’s Eve

HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A two-car New Year's Eve crash on U.S. Highway 20 in Harney County claimed the life of a Terrebonne man, Oregon State Police reported Monday.

Around 5:40 p.m. last Wednesday, Christopher Emanuel Cortez Morales, 25, of Terrebonne, lost control of his Honda Accord, leading to a collision with an Audi A6 driven by Jennifer Tiffany Carey, 53, of Bend, troopers said.

OSP said their preliminary investigation found that Morales was heading west when he traveled into the oncoming lane, clipping Carey's car. The impact caused the Honda to roll and throw Morales, who troopers said was not wearing a seat belt and was declared deceased at the scene. Carey reported no injuries.

The highway was closed for around 1 1/2 hours while OSP conducted their on-scene investigation.

"Operator impairment is being considered as a primary factor in the crash," OSP said in a news release.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Oregon Department of Transportation crews.