FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH - HIGHWAY 95 NORTH OF OREGON/CALIFORNIA BORDER IN MALHEUR COUNTY
News Release from Oregon State Police
Posted on FlashAlert: July 22nd, 2014 12:55 PM
Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Monday night's fatal traffic crash involving a passenger car and commercial truck along Highway 95 about seventeen miles north of the Oregon/California border in southern Malheur County. The crash occurred during heavy rain and high water, resulting in the death of a California man. The victim's name will be released later to allow family added time for next of kin notifications.
On July 21, 2014 at approximately 9:55 p.m., OSP Southern Command Center dispatch was contacted by Ontario 9-1-1 regarding a reported head-on traffic crash on Highway 95 near milepost 104. Emergency responders from Nevada responded and arrived on scene first. Due to the extensive distance to the scene, OSP arrived about two hours after the report was received.
A deputy from Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff's Office arrived on scene first and encountered a scene of high water that was described as approximately 3 - 4 feet deep covering the highway. One of the involved vehicles, a 1999 Acura four-door with California license plates, had significant damage and was unoccupied. The deputy waded into the water and found a deceased adult male who was determined to be the registered owner of the car. The truck driver was not injured.
Preliminary investigation indicates at approximately 9:48 p.m., the Acura driven by a 57-year old Elk Grove, California man, was traveling southbound on Highway 95 as a 2011 Freightliner truck pulling a semi-trailer driven by TIMOTHY DALE LONGHOFER, age 55, from Wilder, Idaho, was traveling northbound. In the darkness, both vehicles traveled into a dip on the highway where heavy rains caused high water to cover the roadway. As the Acura went into the high water, it tossed up a wall of water into the air and traveled into the northbound side of the highway where it collided head-on into the commercial truck.
OSP investigators believe the Acura's driver was not using safety restraints and was ejected from the car.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff's Office, McDermitt, Nevada EMS, and ODOT. Elk Grove Police Department assisted with next of kin notification.
The highway was closed for over 8 hours before one lane was open.
No photographs available for release at this time.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
On July 21, 2014 at approximately 9:55 p.m., OSP Southern Command Center dispatch was contacted by Ontario 9-1-1 regarding a reported head-on traffic crash on Highway 95 near milepost 104. Emergency responders from Nevada responded and arrived on scene first. Due to the extensive distance to the scene, OSP arrived about two hours after the report was received.
A deputy from Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff's Office arrived on scene first and encountered a scene of high water that was described as approximately 3 - 4 feet deep covering the highway. One of the involved vehicles, a 1999 Acura four-door with California license plates, had significant damage and was unoccupied. The deputy waded into the water and found a deceased adult male who was determined to be the registered owner of the car. The truck driver was not injured.
Preliminary investigation indicates at approximately 9:48 p.m., the Acura driven by a 57-year old Elk Grove, California man, was traveling southbound on Highway 95 as a 2011 Freightliner truck pulling a semi-trailer driven by TIMOTHY DALE LONGHOFER, age 55, from Wilder, Idaho, was traveling northbound. In the darkness, both vehicles traveled into a dip on the highway where heavy rains caused high water to cover the roadway. As the Acura went into the high water, it tossed up a wall of water into the air and traveled into the northbound side of the highway where it collided head-on into the commercial truck.
OSP investigators believe the Acura's driver was not using safety restraints and was ejected from the car.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff's Office, McDermitt, Nevada EMS, and ODOT. Elk Grove Police Department assisted with next of kin notification.
The highway was closed for over 8 hours before one lane was open.
No photographs available for release at this time.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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