Three Heppner residents died in a head-on collision on Highway 74.
The Oregon State Police responded to a report of a crash around 5:16 p.m. on Friday on Highway 74 near milepost 39 in Morrow County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a gray 2017 Ford Explorer, operated by Kellie Renae Nelson, 27, of Heppner, was traveling eastbound when it left its lane of travel and collided head-on with a westbound red 1993 Jeep Cherokee operated by Ronald Lee Stutzman, 71, of Heppner. The Jeep was pulling a small utility trailer.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger in the Jeep, Tamara Jane Stutzman, 71, of Heppner, was transported to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner where she later succumbed to her injuries.
OSP was assisted by the Morrow County Sheriffs’ Office, Morrow County District Attorney, Heppner Fire, and MCHD Heppner ambulance.
