Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 97 North of Madras

PHOTO SOURCE: Oregon State Police Large View

(MADRAS, Ore.) - Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into an early Friday morning single vehicle fatal traffic crash along Highway 97 about twenty miles north of Madras. The crash resulted in the death of a 26-year old Madras-area man and serious injuries to a female passenger.

According to OSP Trooper John Russo, on August 26, 2011 at approximately 2:10 a.m. a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro driven by David Ramirez, age 26, from Madras, was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 71. For an undetermined reason, Ramirez lost control and slide off the west side shoulder where the car rolled several times before coming to rest in a 30-foot ravine.

Ramirez was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Passenger Veronica Meza-Lopez, age 19, from Culver, was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend with serious injuries.

ODOT and local emergency responders assisted at the scene.

Source: Oregon State Police