Linn County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a double-fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday evening, July 23, near the address of 25710 Brush Creek Road, approximately one mile east of Crawfordsville.
Sheriff Jim Yon said his office received a report about 6:17 p.m that two vehicles crashed and at least one person was unconscious and not breathing.
The investigation showed that a black 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, driven by Ty Kirkland, 23, was headed southbound on Brush Creek Road. The passengers in the vehicle were Stormy Barge, 24, and her two children, Emma Pulido, 5, and Macy Pulido, 3, all of Sweet Home.
A second vehicle, a green 1999 Jeep Wrangler driven by Brian McIntire, 29, of Sweet Home, was traveling northbound on Brush Creek Road when it left its lane of travel and collided with the Mitsubishi. Stormy Barge was pronounced dead at the scene. Emma Pulido was transported via ambulance and LifeFlight helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, but she died while en route.
Ty Kirkland and Macy Pulido were transported to Riverbend hospital in Springfield with minor injuries.
Alcohol was a factor in the crash, Yon said. McIntire was arrested and lodged in Linn County Jail on the charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, two counts of first degree manslaughter, and reckless driving.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Multi Agency Investigation Team, the Lebanon Police Department, the Sweet Home Fire Department, the Linn County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Linn County Road Department.
The Linn County Medical Examiner was contacted to assist in the investigation, Yon said.
The crash was the second in three days in that area of Brush Creek, between them resulting in three fatalities.
“I would like to plead with everyone to please take caution while driving on our roads,” the Sheriff said. “Please do not drink and drive. There are many options out there so you do not have to drive. If you have to ask yourself if you are all right to drive, you are not all right to drive. You are placing people at risk by making poor choices.
“This is the third fatality on Brush Creek road since Sunday. Please slow down and drive responsibly. There is a lot of extra vehicle traffic on our road system during this time of year.”