Lebanon Fire District and Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 5:44 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, on Highway 20 near milepost 21, between Lebanon and Sweet Home.
According to OSP, which is investigating the incident, witnesses said the driver in a white Jeep Wrangler was driving recklessly as she headed westbound when the Jeep crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a black Kia Forte head-on.
The operator of the Kia, Karen Gail Ramirez, 69, of Sweet Home, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.
The driver of the Jeep, Mariah Darlene Lopez, 30, of Sweet Home, was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Lebanon Fire District reported she had a passenger in her car, and they were both treated at Lebanon Community Hospital. Lopez was arrested for second-degree manslaughter and later charged by the district attorney with criminally negligent homicide. Her bail was set at $25,000.
Investigators ask witnesses to the crash or those who observed the driving behavior of the involved vehicles (a white Jeep Wrangler with a black hardtop and aftermarket wheels and a black Kia Forte) prior to the crash to contact Oregon State Police dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by calling *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Reference case number SP26-142871.
*Updated May 6 to include information that there were two people in the white Jeep.