Two people died Sunday evening after the vehicle they were in lost control on Highway 20 about 24 miles east of Sweet Home, slid sideways into the opposite lane where it was struck by a pickup. The identity of one victim is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Sunday, Jan. 9, at approximately 6:10 p.m., a 2003 Ford F350 crew cab pickup driven by Shawn A. Storey, 32, from Redmond, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 54 when a westbound 2002 Ford Focus four door lost control traveling downhill negotiating a curve and crossed the centerline sideways.
The Ford pickup struck the Ford Focus in the driver’s side. Both occupants of the Ford Focus were pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the pickup were not injured.
The driver of the Ford Focus is identified as Hans B. Bolken, 42, from Albany. The identity of a female passenger is withheld pending notification of next of kin. Bolken was not using safety restraints. The passenger was using safety restraints.
There were two passengers in the Ford pickup identified as Jason R. Reid, 32, and Jeffrey B. Hammack, 27, both from Redmond. Storey and Reid were using safety restraints. Hammack was not using safety restraints. The pickup’s airbag deployed.
At the location of the crash, Highway 20 is a two-lane highway with one lane for both directions of travel. The highway was wet at the time.
Members of the Oregon State Police Albany Area Command are continuing the investigation. Investigators believe the Ford Focus was traveling too fast for conditions and alcohol is being looked at as a contributing factor.
ODOT provided traffic control assistance during the investigation. All lanes were cleared at about 11:30 p.m. Assistance was also provided by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.