Two people, Lebanon and Sweet Home residents, were killed in a head-on collision Saturday evening, April 11, near Milepost 14 on Highway 34, outside of Lebanon, Oregon State Police reported.
OSP troopers responded at 6:43 p.m. According to OSP, a preliminary investigation indicates that a gray Hyundai Elantra operated by Rebecca Estelle Fonseca, 55, of Sweet Home, was traveling westbound on Hwy. 34 when it hydroplaned and crossed into the eastbound lane.
The Hyundai collided head-on with an eastbound blue BMW 32L operated by Ashley Sue Fraley, 31, of Lebanon.
A passenger in the Hyundai, Kayla Marie Fonseca, 35, of Sweet Home, was pronounced deceased at the scene, as was the operator of the BMW, Fraley.
Rebecca Fonseca, the driver of the Hyundai, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries, OSP reported.
According to a post issued by GoFundMe, Kayla Fonseca was in the car with her mom, Rebecca, on their way to celebrate Kayla’s 35th birthday.
A GoFundMe drive is available at www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-kayla-rebecca-after-accident to help Kayla’s sister, Kylie, with funeral and medical expenses.
“Kayla was a bright light in so many lives, always bringing joy and kindness wherever she went,” Lacey Vance, who organized the funding drive, wrote on GoFundMe. “Your kindness and generosity will mean so much to those who are grieving and trying to find hope in the midst of tragedy.”
Highway traffic was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation Saturday.
OSP was assisted by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.