Police Identify Four Teens Killed in Crash Near Clatskanie

Quadruple Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 30 also injures another driver and a fifth teen.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police Columbia County

(CLATSKANIE, Ore.) - Police say four teenagers died and a fifth was critically injured Monday morning when the sport utility vehicle they were in collided with a van on Highway 30 about one mile west of Clatskanie in Columbia County.

The teenagers are from Clark County, Washington. Police investigators have confirmed that next of kin notifications are completed. Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 11:10 a.m. a black sport utility vehicle with five teenagers, ages 17 and 18, was westbound on Highway 30 near milepost 63.

Investigators say the driver, 17-year old Aja L. Gerrity of Ridgeway, Washington, was attempting to pass another vehicle in a sport utility vehicle when she lost control slid broadside into the eastbound lane.

The vehicle was struck in the passenger side by an eastbound white Chevrolet van driven by a 55-year old Vancouver, Washington man.

Aja Gerrity and three passengers, 18-year old Amanda Williams of Ridgefield, Washington, 18-year old Jason Cary Carter of Vancouver, Washington and 18-year old Richard Michael Araiaza of Ridegefield, were pronounced deceased at the scene.

A fifth occupant, an 18-year old male, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in critical condition.

The van's driver, Ki Young Kim, was transported by ground ambulance to St. John's Hospital in Longview with serious injuries. Highway 30 west of Clatskanie was closed in both directions while OSP troopers continued the scene investigation. ODOT and Columbia County Sheriff's Office are handling traffic detour duties. Clatskanie Police Department and Clatskanie Fire Department assisted at the scene. No additional information being released at this time.