Mother and Daughter Die from Injuries Sustained in New Year's Eve Crash

Police say the daughter was riding on her mother's lap in the back of the vehicle without seatbelts.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(ODELL, Ore.) - A mother and her 8-year old daughter both from West Linn died early Tuesday morning at Portland-area hospitals from injuries sustained in a Monday morning crash on Highway 35 south of Odell, police say.

A third person remains in critical condition, and Oregon State Police are continuing the investigation.

48-year old Anita Kawecki and 6-year old Anna Kawecki were passengers in a car that lost control on an icy section of Highway 35 south of Odell and was involved in a collision with a Chevrolet Blazer.

Both were critically injured as was the driver's girlfriend, 24-year old Alisa Huttes of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Anita Kawecki reportedly died from her injuries early Tuesday morning at Oregon Health Sciences University. Anna Kawecki reportedly died early Tuesday morning at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.

Police investigators say that just after 11:00 AM yesterday, OSP Trooper Mike Holloran responded to a reported serious two-car crash on Highway 35 south of Odell and arrived within a minute of the call.

Before emergency medical personnel could arrive, Trooper Holloran triaged the patients with the help of people who stopped at the scene.

Lifesaving efforts began on the three most critically injured patients including establishing open airways and performing CPR on Anita Kawecki for about 30 minutes.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a southbound 2005 Honda Accord driven by 25-year old Jacek Kawecki of Arlington, Virginia, was accelerating up a hill in the left lane passing another vehicle when he entered a shady, icy spot on the highway. The Honda lost control, spun 180 degrees into the northbound lane where its rear-end collided with the front-end of a northbound 1988 Chevrolet Blazer operated by 21-year old David Dolan of Kelso, Washington.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts. Dolan, who was alone in his vehicle, was treated and released from the Hood River Hospital for minor injuries.

Jacek Kawecki was not injured. Investigators report he is the son and brother of the victims. Four passengers in the Honda were injured at the scene, three critically. In addition those who died, 17-year old Davie Kawecki was also a passenger and is undergoing medical treatment in the hospital.

Police say that earlier in the day, Highway 35 had mostly thawed but the shady spot likely extended the icing condition on that part of the highway where the crash occurred.

ODOT detoured traffic through Odell for approximately three hours during the crash investigation.

OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are investigating the crash with the help of an OSP crash reconstructionist. Hood River County Sheriff's Deputies, Odell Fire and Rescue, and ODOT personnel assisted at the scene.

Investigators will meet with the Hood River County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday to review the investigation.