Sherman County, Ore. – March 18, 2024: A devastating collision occurred late Monday night on Hwy-97 near milepost 47 in Sherman County, resulting in the loss of life and significant road closures.
At approximately 11:45 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to the scene where a northbound Volkswagen Beetle, driven by Jayden Matthew Smith, 23, of Prineville, crossed into the southbound lane, colliding head-on with a Volvo commercial motor vehicle and trailer operated by Kashmir Singh, 36, of Tacoma, Washington.
The collision led to both vehicles catching fire and becoming fully engulfed in flames. Tragically, Jayden Matthew Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Fortunately, Kashmir Singh, the operator of the Volvo commercial motor vehicle, escaped the incident without injuries.
The aftermath of the crash resulted in significant disruption to traffic flow along Hwy-97, with the highway being impacted for approximately 6.5 hours during the on-scene investigation.
Oregon State Police received assistance from the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in managing the situation.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine why the Volkswagen Beetle crossed into the opposing lane.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safe driving practices, particularly on busy highways like Hwy-97, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jayden Matthew Smith during this difficult time.
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