News Update: Willamina High senior killed in crash
Local News | 6 hours 43 min ago | Comments 2
By Paul Daquilante
Oregon State Police Sergeant Brad Hessel surveys the scene of a crash on Hebo Road that took the life of a Willamina High School senior. Chrissy Ragulsky/NewsRegister.com
GRAND RONDE — An unidentified Willamina High School senior was killed and three other students were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning west of Highway 18 on Highway 22 (Hebo Road).
The dead student is a girl, according to Willamina School District Superintendent Gus Forster. He identified the injured students as senior Anthony Gorretta, 18; his brother, Vince, 14, a freshman, and senior Jeff Haggard, 17.
Vince Gorretta and Haggard were flown by Life Flight and REACH Air Medical Services helicopters to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Gorretta sustained facial fractures, Forster said. Haggard sustained a broken arm, leg, ribs, punctured lung, kidney and liver injuries. Anthony Gorretta was transported by West Valley Fire District ambulance to the Willamette Valley Medical Center, treated for a cut on his head and released.
The crash, which occurred about 8:30, involved a small extended cab pickup, containing the four students, which collided nearly head-on with a tractor-trailer rig, according to the Oregon State Police. The truck driver was not injured. He was headed east and the pickup was westbound on its way to school, Willamina Principal Tim France said.
The students were reportedly pinned in the pickup when West Valley medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. The first arriving medic unit reported there was a fatality.
Both medical helicopters landed in a Spirit Mountain Casino parking lot.
The Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation also responded to the crash.
The crash closed Highway 22 for more than five hours, during which time traffic was rerouted onto Grand Ronde Road.
See Thursday’s print edition for additional details.
I saw the ambulances and fire trucks heading out of town this morning, then heard there was a bad accident involving a group of kids. Very sad. for all the families involved, and for those who will be touched by this tragedy.
__________________ Mothers of little boys work from son up 'til son down.
i cant believe this
Sweet Melissa
for all the families involved, and for those who will be touched by this tragedy.
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