Sean C. Morgan and
Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Three people were killed in two wrecks in the Sweet Home area on Saturday.
In the first, Kathleen Lorraine Warden, 65, and Donald E. Warden, 67, of Boulder City, Nev., died after their truck smashed into a tree at the intersection of Clark Mill Road and Highway 20.
Tonn Spencer Cummins, 37, of Lebanon, a part owner of Mallard Creek Golf Course, was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and McDowell Creek Road.
At approximately 1:40 p.m., Sweet Home police and Sweet Home medics responded to the Clark Mill-Highway 20 wreck.
Kathleen Warden, the driver, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger Donald Warden was transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The vehicle, a 2004 Ford pickup, was westbound on Highway 20 when it crossed the eastbound lanes, left the highway and became airborne for approximately 50 feet before striking a tree approximately 10 feet up, Police Chief Bob Burford said.
Police closed sections of Clark Mill Road for approximately three hours while investigating, Burford said. Linn County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation, which remains open.
Burford could not say Monday why the wreck occurred. Police still need to look at toxicology and other factors during their investigation.
The Wardens were headed to Philomath, where relatives live, Burford said.
Police have talked with a couple of witnesses to the accident, but “we’re still hoping that witnesses that actually saw the accident will contact us,” Burford said. Burford asks that anyone who may have seen anything regarding the accident to contact Sweet Home Police Department at 367-5181.
Charles Hite, a supervisor at Hoy’s Hardware, said he was looking at some paint samples next to the store’s fron door when the Wardens’ truck hit the tree.
“A guy had come thorough the front door and was asking me a question about automotive when we heard a ‘crash,'” Hite recalled. “He said, ‘That didn’t sound good,’ and we looked out and saw what happened and I told (one of his employees) to call 9-1-1.”
Hite said he’s been at the store approximately six years and has seen “about four accidents a year at that corner.
“There was no sound of tires screeching this time,” he said.
At approximately 7:24 p.m., deputies responded to the crash at Pleasant Valley and McDowell Creek.
While enroute, they were informed by Lebanon medics that the only person involved in the crash was deceased, Sheriff Tim Mueller said.
Cummins had been driving a silver 2003 Kawasaki Ninja Z3B motorcycle north on Pleasant Valley Road when he lost control on a slight curve and crashed into the south end of a concrete bridge abutment, Mueller said. He was wearing a helmet and protective clothing.
Witnesses had reported seeing a motorcycle earlier in the day moving at a high rate of speed, Capt. Bruce Riley said, and speed may have contributed to the accident.
The accident remains under investigation.
Cummins’ body was transported to Huston-Jost Funeral Home in Lebanon, then moved to Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home in Portland.
A funeral service is planned this Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, 5625 NE Fremont St., Portland.