KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (May. 15, 2026) — A 75-year-old Klamath Falls man died Thursday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 39 in Klamath Falls, according to the Oregon State Police.
Troopers responded to the crash at about 4:33 p.m. Thursday near milepost 4 on South Sixth Street, close to Wiard Street.
A preliminary investigation found that a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Sebastian Bufardeci Jr., 75, of Klamath Falls, was traveling westbound when it veered into the turn lane for an unknown reason. Investigators said the Jeep clipped the driver’s side of a westbound Chevrolet Silverado driven by Benjamin Duval, 45, of Klamath Falls.
The Jeep then crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a Toyota Tundra driven by Alejandro Ruelas, 33, of Klamath Falls, according to police.
Bufardeci was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ruelas was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Duval was not injured, authorities said.
The highway was impacted for about 3 1/2 hours while investigators processed the scene.
The Oregon State Police was assisted by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County Fire District 1 and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The crash remains under investigation by the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, a specialized team that investigates fatal and serious-injury crashes across the state.
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