Tragedy struck on Highway 97 in Wasco County last Friday night when a fatal crash claimed the life of a young boy and left several others seriously injured. According to a report by Oregon State Police, the collision occurred at approximately 9:08 p.m., near milepost 65.
The detailed account of the incident released by OSP details how a Honda CRV, driven by Eduardo Enrique Aguirre, 34, of Spokane, Washington, attempted an unlawful pass of a commercial vehicle in a no-passing zone. The misguided maneuver led to a head-on clash with a Volkswagen Atlas operated by Eric Daniel Smidt, 45, of Pendleton. Aguirre's vehicle was carrying two juvenile passengers, while Smidt's was accompanied by Heather Marie Smidt, 46, and another male juvenile, 15 years of age, from Pendleton.
As the aftermath of the impact unfolded, emergency services rushed to the scene. A 7-year-old boy, who had been a passenger in the Honda, was airlifted to a hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries. Aguirre and a 4-year-old boy also in the Honda sustained serious injuries. Eric Smidt, Heather Smidt, and the 15-year-old passenger in the Volkswagen similarly suffered serious injuries and all were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
The devastating consequences of the crash extended beyond the victims, as Highway 97 was closed for approximately five hours for investigation, causing significant traffic disruption. Authorities, including the Wasco County Sheriff's Office and ODOT, assisted OSP at the scene. The OSP's findings leave little doubt: an unlawful pass is to blame for this sorrowful event.
