A Thursday afternoon drive along Highway 39 turned tragic when a 75-year-old Klamath Falls man was killed in a three-vehicle collision that shut down the busy corridor for hours and drew a large emergency response.
According to a news release from the Oregon State Police, troopers were called out just after 4:30 p.m. to the area near milepost 4, close to South 6th Street and Wiard Street. Investigators say a westbound blue Jeep Grand Cherokee moved into the turn lane, clipped the driver side of a westbound silver Chevrolet Silverado, then continued across into the eastbound lane and struck a white Toyota Tundra head-on.
As reported by KOIN, the Jeep's driver was identified as 75-year-old Sebastian Bufardeci Jr. of Klamath Falls, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Toyota's driver, 33-year-old Alejandro Ruelas, was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, while the Chevrolet's driver, 45-year-old Benjamin Duval, was reported uninjured.
Crash Corridor And Ongoing Safety Efforts
OR-39 cuts directly through Klamath Falls and has been the focus of recent pavement and interchange work, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. The state also operates data tools that log fatal and serious crashes on routes like OR-39, information that helps officials decide where to target safety projects.
The Oregon State Police said traffic on the highway was affected for roughly three and a half hours while first responders, road crews and investigators worked the scene and cleared the wreckage. Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Klamath County Fire District 1 and the Oregon Department of Transportation all assisted at the crash site.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the Jeep to veer into the turn lane and then into oncoming traffic. Authorities are asking anyone who may have dash-cam video or other information from the area around the time of the crash to contact local law enforcement as the investigation continues.
