A Thursday evening drive on U.S. Highway 26 near Sandy turned deadly when an 18-year-old pickup driver reportedly fell asleep and crossed into oncoming traffic, killing a Redmond man and seriously injuring a woman in a head-on crash. The collision happened around 7:30 p.m. near milepost 28 when an eastbound pickup veered into the westbound lane and struck a Subaru Outback. Troopers pronounced the Subaru's passenger dead at the scene, and the Subaru's driver was flown to an area hospital, while the young pickup driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the man who died was identified as 42-year-old Christopher James Hamre of Redmond, and troopers named the Subaru's driver as 45-year-old Sally Caitlin West. The outlet reports that Oregon State Police troopers responded to the scene and that investigators are treating the account of the crash as preliminary.
The preliminary account reported by KTVZ states that a gold Toyota Tacoma driven eastbound by 18-year-old Wyatt Branchley Beers of Whitefish, Montana, crossed into the westbound lanes after Beers fell asleep and collided with the Subaru. KTVZ notes that Beers was not injured and remained at the scene to cooperate with troopers.
KPTV reports that Hamre was pronounced dead at the scene and that West was flown by Life Flight to an area hospital with serious injuries. The station adds that police have not yet said whether any criminal charges will be filed.
Investigation and road impact
Troopers kept the highway closed for roughly three hours while investigators documented the wreckage and collected evidence. KTVZ notes that Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by Clackamas Fire and Rescue, Life Flight, AMR, the Clackamas County medical examiner and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Authorities have described the findings so far as preliminary while they examine vehicle damage and other evidence, and officials say more details will be released as the investigation continues.
Dangerous stretch
This section of Highway 26 east of Sandy has seen multiple serious collisions in recent months, a trend chronicled in a March report on multiple serious collisions. Troopers and local outlets point to fast-changing mountain weather and heavy recreational traffic as factors that can make the route hazardous, and they urge drivers to check ODOT's TripCheck before heading into the mountains.
Oregon State Police continue to investigate the crash and say the agency's initial findings remain preliminary, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Our thoughts are with the family of Christopher Hamre and with everyone affected by the collision.
