A 34-year-old Gresham woman was killed and a 2-year-old girl suffered minor injuries Wednesday afternoon after a pickup slid off U.S. Highway 26 and slammed into a tree near Welches, as snow and hail covered the roadway.
Troopers and emergency crews were called out around 3 p.m. The Oregon State Police said a white Dodge Ram driven westbound by 39-year-old Alen Hatunic of Portland lost control near milepost 39, crossed the roadway, went through a ditch and crashed head-on into a tree. Rear passenger Nina Westbrook, 34, of Gresham, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver and another passenger, 39-year-old Eugene Bryce Westbrook of Portland, were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries. A 2-year-old female passenger was transported with minor injuries, according to Oregon State Police.
Investigators Cite Weather And Speed
“Weather/roadway conditions and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the crash,” the Oregon State Police said…