News Release from: Oregon State Police
CORRECTION TO UPDATE: NAMES & OTHER INFO - SERIOUS INJURY TRAFFIC CRASH - HIGHWAY 97 NORTH OF MADRAS (PHOTOS)
Posted: May 15th, 2013 4:06 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1002/64316/051513.hwy97mp77.1.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1002/64316/051513.hwy97mp77.2.JPG
CORRECTION: Passenger MARTIN was ejected and transported by air, not passenger GILLESPIE
***
An investigation by Oregon State Police (OSP) into the cause of an early Wednesday morning single vehicle traffic crash along Highway 97 about 14 miles north of Madras led to the driver being cited for several offenses. The vehicle's 3 occupants are also identified as names released.
On May 15, 2013 at approximately 5:08 a.m., a 1992 Chevrolet Blazer sport utility vehicle driven by NICHOLAS M. RUSSELL, age 18, from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, was northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 77 when it crossed the southbound lane. The vehicle continued onto the shoulder and rolled at least once before coming to rest on its wheels in the southbound lane.
One of the 2 passengers identified as TRENT MARTIN, age 18, from Coeur D-Alene, was ejected from the rolling vehicle and seriously injured. MARTIN was transported by air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. RUSSELL and passenger JOSEPH GILLESPIE, age 17, from Dublin, California, received non-life threatening injuries and were taken by ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Madras.
Subsequent to the investigation, RUSSELL was cited to appear in Jefferson County Circuit Court for Reckless Driving, Assault in the Third Degree, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, No Operator License, and Fail to Maintain a Lane of Travel.
The highway was blocked one hour during the emergency incident response. No OSP troopers were on duty so one was called out from his residence to respond and investigate. Lead investigator is Senior Trooper Jed Rzegocki. Driver fatigue was noted as one contributing factor in this crash.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County EMS, Jefferson County Fire Department, LifeFlight, and ODOT.
Photographs - Oregon State Police
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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