11/16/09 Madras
UPDATE:
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into a Saturday morning two-vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 35 about five miles north of Mt. Hood Meadows. OSP has received confirmation of the death of 6-year old LETTICIA YASMIN TORRES, from Madras, Sunday night at Legacy Emanuel Hospital where she was being treated since the crash. No additional information related to this investigation is being released at this time.
According to OSP Sergeant Julie Wilcox, on November 14, 2009 at approximately 10:28 a.m. a 1992 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle driven by JUSTIN WAYNE O'NEAL, age 16, from Battleground, Washington was southbound with two other teenagers on Highway 35 near milepost 69 on snow/ice-covered roadway conditions. The GMC Yukon was attempting to pass another vehicle when O'NEAL lost control into the path of a northbound 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with six occupants. The Jeep's driver, EMMANUEL TORRES, age 23, from Madras, attempted to veer to the right to avoid the GMC Yukon. Despite an attempt to avoid the GMC Yukon, the Jeep was struck in the driver's side and came to a rest in a ditch along the highway.
EMMANUEL TORRES was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints. The following other Jeep occupants were:
* Right front passenger (wife) MARJEAN LOUISE ALONSO, age 23, from Madras, was using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
* Middle right seat passenger (Marjean's sister) ANTONIA LYNN ALONSO, age 27, from Warm Springs, was not using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
* Middle center seat passenger (Antonia's son) ISAAC LEO REYNOSO, age 11, from Warm Springis, was not using safety restraints and transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University with serious injuries.
* Middle left seat passenger (victim's daughter) LETTICIA YASMIN TORRES, age 6, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown. As noted above, she died Sunday night.
* Left rear seat passenger (victim's son) JOSE DAMIAN TORRES, age 5, transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown.
JUSTIN O'NEAL was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital, then taken by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University. Safety restraint use is unknown.
Two passengers in the GMC are identified as:
* Right front passenger JOSH DAVID MUONIO, age 16, from Battleground, Washington was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital. He was only using a lap safety restraint.
* Center rear passenger JUSTIN THEODORE DAVID, age 15, from Battleground, Washington was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was only using a lap safety restraint.
OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are continuing the investigation.
Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Parkdale Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 35 was closed about two hours.
11/15/09
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into a Saturday morning two-vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 35 about five miles north of Mt. Hood Meadows. The following update contains information regarding the deceased and eight injured individuals. Next of kin have been notified.
According to OSP Sergeant Julie Wilcox, on November 14, 2009 at approximately 10:28 a.m. a 1992 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle driven by JUSTIN WAYNE O'NEAL, age 16, from Battleground, Washington was southbound with two other teenagers on Highway 35 near milepost 69 on snow/ice-covered roadway conditions. The GMC Yukon was attempting to pass another vehicle when O'NEAL lost control into the path of a northbound 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with six occupants. The Jeep's driver, EMMANUEL TORRES, age 23, from Madras, attempted to veer to the right to avoid the GMC Yukon. Despite an attempt to avoid the GMC Yukon, the Jeep was struck in the driver's side and came to a rest in a ditch along the highway.
EMMANUEL TORRES was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints. The following other Jeep occupants were:
* Right front passenger (wife) MARJEAN LOUISE ALONSO, age 23, was using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
* Middle right seat passenger (Marjean's sister) ANTONIA LYNN ALONSO, age 27, from Warm Springs, was not using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
* Middle center seat passenger (Antonia's son) ISAAC LEO REYNOSO, age 11, from Warm Springis, was not using safety restraints and transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University with serious injuries.
* Middle left seat passenger (victim's daughter) LETTICIA YASMIN TORRES, age 6, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown.
* Left rear seat passenger (victim's son) JOSE DAMIAN TORRES, age 5, transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown.
JUSTIN O'NEAL was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital, then taken by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University. Safety restraint use is unknown.
Two passengers in the GMC are identified as:
* Right front passenger JOSH DAVID MUONIO, age 16, from Battleground, Washington was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital. He was only using a lap safety restraint.
* Center rear passenger JUSTIN THEODORE DAVID, age 15, from Battleground, Washington was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was only using a lap safety restraint.
OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are continuing the investigation.
Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Parkdale Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 35 was closed about two hours.
Photograph Source: Oregon State Police
