Klamath County, Oregon- In a devastating incident on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 9:45 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a fatal crash involving a commercial motor vehicle and a passenger vehicle on Hwy 97, near milepost 193, in Klamath County.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Juan Ochoa Bravo (39) of Bend, lost control while traveling northbound. The vehicle slid into the southbound travel lane, leading to a collision with a southbound Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Iskanyan Avetis Vardani (56) of Los Angeles (CA).
Tragically, the operator of the Chrysler (Juan Ochoa Bravo), along with passengers Eve Saldana Alcantar (37), Erik Ochoa Saldana (18), and a male infant (1), all lost their lives at the scene. Another female juvenile (15) was later declared deceased, and an 11-year-old passenger was transported to an area medical center with critical injuries.
The operator of the Peterbilt (Vardani) reportedly escaped without injuries. The collision resulted in significant damage, with the highway impacted for approximately 5 hours during the on-scene investigation.
Factors contributing to the crash include adverse roadway conditions and several passengers not wearing proper safety restraints. Oregon State Police received assistance from Crescent Fire and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) during the response and investigation.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety measures on the road, emphasizing the need for vigilance in challenging conditions.
Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this heartbreaking event.
Source: OSP
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
