A Sweet Home woman was killed Saturday evening after a Jeep crossed the center line on Highway 20 and hit her car head-on, according to state troopers. One driver died, and the other is now facing a manslaughter charge.
According to a press release from the Oregon State Police, troopers responded around 5:44 p.m. on May 2 to a two-vehicle crash near milepost 21 of Highway 20 in Linn County, just west of Sweet Home. A preliminary investigation found that a westbound white Jeep Wrangler crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with a black Kia Forte. The Kia's driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
OSP is asking anyone who saw the vehicles or their driving behavior before the crash to contact dispatch at 800-442-0776 or dial *OSP (*677) and reference case SP26-142871.
What Investigators Say
Local reporting identified the Jeep's driver as 30-year-old Mariah Darlene Lopez and the Kia's driver as 69-year-old Karen Gail Ramirez, both of Sweet Home. Authorities said Ramirez was ejected from her vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, while Lopez sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The Jeep was described as having a black hardtop and aftermarket wheels, details investigators hope might jog the memories of passing drivers, as reported by FOX 12.
Charges And What They Mean
Lopez was arrested and lodged at the Linn County Jail on a charge of second-degree manslaughter, authorities said. Under Oregon law, manslaughter in the second degree is defined in Justia and applies when a death results from reckless conduct. It is prosecuted as a felony under the state's criminal code.
Prosecutors still have to decide whether to file formal charges in court as investigators continue to gather evidence.
A Dangerous Stretch
This crash is the latest deadly collision on Highway 20 this spring. The Oregon State Police has investigated other fatal wrecks along the route, including a head-on crash near Newport on April 16. OSP's collision reconstruction unit has been busy along the corridor as troopers and local crews work scenes and clear the roadway for hours at a time, according to the agency's press postings.
How To Help The Investigation
Investigators are asking anyone with dash-cam footage, cellphone video, or first-hand observations of either vehicle's driving behavior before the crash to contact Oregon State Police dispatch.
Lebanon Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene, and the highway was closed for about four hours while crews worked, according to FOX 12.
The crash remains under investigation, and OSP again asked callers to reference case SP26-142871 when submitting tips. Local reporting also notes that Lopez was lodged at the Linn County Jail following her release from hospital care, as described by Right Now Oregon.
