Crash Near McMinnville Injures Two

Salem-News.com

(McMINNVILLE) - Police are investigating a serious injury crash that happened early Saturday morning on SE Lafayette Highway, about 5 miles south of McMinnville near Walnut Hill Road. Two people were injured. Police say there may have been others, but they were gone from the scene before officers arrived.

Investigators are trying to identify three others who may have been transported from the scene by a second vehicle.

Police say this morning at approximately 5:15 AM, a 1989 Ford Mustang was reportedly northbound in the southbound lane of SE Lafayette Highway near milepost 5.5. According to a southbound witness, another vehicle was in the northbound lane and the witness reportedly swerved to avoid the Ford Mustang.

Investigators say the Ford Mustang lost control and veered back across the highway where it rolled and came to rest in a nearby field on its wheels.

Oregon State Police troopers, assisted by the Yamhill County Multi Agency Traffic Team (MATT), say they have identified two occupants who were at the scene and transported for their injuries. Three other unidentified occupants were reportedly picked up by the other northbound vehicle and driven from the scene.

The driver was trapped and extricated by local fire personnel. 22-year old Martin Arriaga Serratos of McMinnville, was transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University with serious injuries. He was using safety restraints.

The identified passenger, 14-year old Pedro Juarez Serratos of McMinnville, was transported by ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville where he was treated and released for minor injuries. Safety restraints use information is not available.

Speed and intoxicants are being investigated as possible contributing factors.

No OSP troopers were on duty at the time of the crash and were called out to investigate. Agency personnel from the MATT team included Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, Newberg Police Department, and McMinnville Police Department.

The highway was closed until about 11:00 AM.