ODFW Biologist Killed in Traffic Crash on Highway 20 Near Toledo

Tamara Elizabeth Wagner PHOTO: Oregon State Police

(TOLEDO, Ore.) - Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Monday afternoon's fatal traffic crash that occurred on Highway 20 at the intersection of Highway 229 in the Toledo area.

The crash, which was witnessed by an on-duty Toledo police officer, resulted in the death of an Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) wildlife biologist.

According to OSP Lieutenant Mike Turner, on October 25, 2010 at approximately 3:37 p.m. a 2004 Chevrolet passenger car driven by Martha Lockhart, age 82, from Olivehurst, California, was stopped facing north on Highway 229 at the intersection with Highway 20.

The Chevrolet began to cross Highway 20 directly in the path of an eastbound 2006 Freightliner truck pulling an empty pole trailer operated by Michael McCuen, age 57, from Fall Creek. The Chevrolet struck the passenger side of the Freightliner truck leading to the pole trailer flipping onto its side and colliding with a westbound 2006 Chevrolet pickup pulling a small utility trailer driven by ODFW employee Tamara Elizabeth Wagner, age 52, from Lincoln City.

During the collision the pole trailer detached and became entangled with the Chevrolet pickup, coming to an uncontrolled stop blocking the westbound lane of Highway 20. The Chevrolet passenger car driven by Lockhart came to rest on the south shoulder of Highway 20. The Freightliner truck came to a stop just east of the crash scene on the south shoulder.

Tamara Wagner was pronounced deceased at the scene. The pickup she was operating is registered to the State of Oregon. ODFW will have more background information regarding Wagner this morning. Questions for ODFW may be directed to Richard Hargrave, Deputy Administrator, Information & Education Division, at (503) 947-6020.

Lockhart was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

McCuen was not injured.

Safety restraint use information and photographs from the scene will be released later this morning when available.

OSP troopers from the Newport Area Command office, with the assistance of OSP collision reconstructionists from Newport and Springfield offices, are leading the investigation.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Toledo Police Department, Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County District Attorney's Office, Toledo Fire Department, and ODOT.

The intersection was closed for approximately 7 hours.

Source: Oregon State Police
PHOTO Highway 20 / 229