A 20-year-old Sweet Home man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 west of Philomath on Jan. 3.
Oregon State Police and medics responded to a report of the crash on Highway 20 near milepost 33 and Clem Road at 11:45 p.m.
Tanner Jewell of Sweet Home, a passenger in the vehicle, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead.
According to a report by
Oregon State Police, a silver Dodge pickup was traveling east when the vehicle went out of control and struck the eastbound guardrail. The pickup crossed the roadway, went up the hill of the opposing shoulder and crashed head-on into a tree.
Jewell, who was in the passenger seat, was deceased upon the arrival of emergency responders, according to the police record.
A female at the scene, Chantell Neff, 27, of Salem, told police she was a passenger in the middle seat and that an unknown male was driving the pickup. According to the report, the female passenger only knew the male’s first name.
Police conducted an extensive search of the area and located no other occupants, according to the report, and there were no signs of anyone being ejected.
Neff was transported to Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis and interviewed further at the hospital. Police said her injuries were not serious.
OSP is continuing the investigation.
The Oregon State Police Albany Patrol Office notified the next of kin. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Coast Towing and transported to the Oregon State Police Newport Patrol Office as evidence.
The victim’s body was taken by Bateman’s Funeral Home of Newport.
OSP was assisted by Toledo Fire Department, Philomath Fire Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Transportation Maintenance, ODOT Incident Response, PacWest Ambulance, Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office and Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office.