Fatal Crash Claims Two at Gopher Valley Road (UPDATE)

This is the 3rd fatality near here in the last six months.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(SHERIDAN, Ore.) - Wednesday night at 7:30 fire and EMS crews from Sheridan, SW Polk, and West Valley responded to a reported 2-vehicle accident.

UPDATE 10/31/2019 Names Released:

Kyra Loucks was not seriously injured in the crash,

Evan Anderson and front seat passenger 34-year old Jeramiah Villarreal of McMinnville, were transported to Salem Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Anderson's two passengers in the backseat of the Civic, 35-year old Ralph Lehn of McMinnville and 49-year old Claudia Barclay of Eugene, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased.

Hwy 18 was closed for approximately four hours.

Original Text:

Wednesday night at 7:30 fire and EMS crews from Sheridan, SW Polk, and West Valley responded to a reported 2-vehicle accident.

The initial reports were that two vehicles had collided, with 2 known fatalities and 2 critically injured persons.

Early reports said one of the vehicles missed the Dairy Queen driveway, causing loss of control. PGE was advised the vehicle hit the guy wire and became lodged on it.

This is the 3rd fatality incident near this location in the last six months. Those most affected cried out through Facebook pages, asking why ODOT hasn't done anything to curb the continued deaths on this stretch of highway.

Sheridan, SW Polk, and West Valley Fire Department crews assisted with patient care and transportation of the critically injured. The remainder of the crews assisted with area cleanup and traffic control.

OR 18 was closed two miles east of Sheridan for several hours, due to the law enforcement investigation and reconstruction. As of this report, the current traffic situation has all vehicles being diverted to Gopher Valley Road off of HWY 18.

Everyone, please use caution when traveling in this vicinity, follow traffic laws, and ALWAYS wear your seatbelt.

Sources: News Release from Sheridan/SW Polk/West Valley Fire Districts; YamCo Facebook page; others.