Three Die in Head-On Crash Near Elsie

The triple fatal traffic crash happened on Highway 26 east of Elsie.

Salem-News.com

(ELSIE, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a two-vehicle head-on crash Sunday afternoon on Highway 26 east of Elsie that has resulted in the death of three people and injuries to four others. No names will be released tonight and troopers anticipate the highway will reopen around 9:00 PM.

State police Spokesman Greg Hastings says that around 3:45 PM, a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta with five occupants was westbound on Highway 26 near milepost 25 when, for unknown reasons, crossed the center line and crashed nearly head-on with an eastbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup with two occupants.

Three female passengers in the Volkswagen Jetta were pronounced deceased at the scene. The male driver and a male passenger were injured and transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. The driver reportedly received minor injuries. The passenger is in critical condition.

Hastings says the pickup's male driver was reportedly not injured. The female passenger received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an unknown hospital.

"Preliminary information indicates conditions at the time of the crash were not icy," he said.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation. ODOT and Elsie-Vinemaple Fire Department personnel are assisting. A detour around the scene was reported established for traffic.

Editor's note: Elsie has been the scene of a number of very serious crashes in recent weeks. On December 31st, five people were injured in a head-on crash on Highway 28 near Elsie: Five Injured in Head-On Crash on Highway 26, and just before that on Christmas Eve, a Kansas woman was critically injured in a crash near Elsie: Kansas Woman Critically Injured in Christmas Eve Crash Near Elsie, Oregon