On September 25th 2016 at about 5:30PM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two vehicle crash on Highway 97 near milepost 31 (just south of Grass Valley).
Preliminary investigation revealed a 1969 Pontiac GTO was traveling southbound on Highway 97, when for unknown reasons, lost control and became sideways on the highway. A 2015 Ford pickup towing a horse trailer, also traveling southbound and following the Pontiac, pulling a horse trailer struck the Pontiac in the driver's door.
The driver of the Pontiac, James W ROBINSON, age 57, of Beaverton, was critically injured and taken by air ambulance to Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. ROBINSON later died as a result of those injuries from the crash. The driver of the Ford, Richard L DAMON, age 37, and his three passengers were not injured (all of White City).
There were two horses in the horse trailer which were not injured. Speed is being investigated as a contributing factor in the crash. OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Sherman County EMS, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Highway 97 was partially closed for several hours while the crash was investigated.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 1969 Pontiac GTO was traveling southbound on Highway 97, when for unknown reasons, lost control and became sideways on the highway. A 2015 Ford pickup towing a horse trailer, also traveling southbound and following the Pontiac, pulling a horse trailer struck the Pontiac in the driver's door.
The driver of the Pontiac, James W ROBINSON, age 57, of Beaverton, was critically injured and taken by air ambulance to Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. ROBINSON later died as a result of those injuries from the crash. The driver of the Ford, Richard L DAMON, age 37, and his three passengers were not injured (all of White City).
There were two horses in the horse trailer which were not injured. Speed is being investigated as a contributing factor in the crash. OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Sherman County EMS, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Highway 97 was partially closed for several hours while the crash was investigated.