Highway 97 Crash Takes Four Lives South of Madras

Two others were transported with non-life threatening injuries.

Scene Photo: OSP

(MADRAS, Ore.) - Tuesday afternoon just after 2 o'clock, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a multiple vehicle crash on Highway 97 near milepost 100 (intersection of Bear Lane, south of Madras).

According to the preliminary investigation, a 2003 Pontiac van was traveling northbound on Highway 97 when it stopped in the lane of travel in preparation to make a left turn onto Bear Lane (waiting for southbound traffic to pass).

While waiting to make a left turn, an unknown vehicle that had also been traveling northbound on Highway 97 almost rear-ended the Pontiac but passed it on the right shoulder.

Another northbound vehicle, a 2015 Ford van, could not avoid the Pontiac and rear-ended it at highway speeds. This impact forced the Pontiac into the southbound lane of travel where it collided with a southbound 2008 Honda Accord.

The driver of the Pontiac, 49-year old Anita Bemrose, of Madras was taken by air ambulance to Saint Charles in Bend where she died from her injuries.

A 10-year old male passenger was also taken to Saint Charles for life threatening injuries. On Wednesday, OSP learned that the 10 year old succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Saint Charles in Bend.

Two other passengers, a 12-year old male and 14-year old male, were pronounced deceased on scene. All passengers were sons to the deceased driver.

The driver of the Honda, 69-year old Shirley Ayres, of Madras was transported to Saint Charles Madras for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford, 41-year old Bryan McDonald, of Redmond, was taken to Saint Charles Redmond for non-life threatening injuries.

OSP is seeking the public's assistance if anyone has knowledge identifying the operator of the unknown vehicle who nearly collided with the stopped Pontiac. Anyone will information is asked to call the Oregon State Police at 503-375-3555.