Four Family Members from Idaho Die in Crash at Oregon / Nevada border

Both the family and the truck driver were from Idaho.

Fatal crash scene near the Oregon/Nevada border Photo: Oregon State Police

(MCCERMOTT, Ore.) - Oregon State Police are continuing their investigation of a fatal traffic crash that resulted in the death of four members of a Nampa, Idaho family Friday evening. OSP Spokesman Greg Hastings says the crash happened when their vehicle collided head-on with a commercial truck on Highway 95 about fifteen miles north of the Oregon / Nevada border.

"Both vehicles caught fire and were destroyed. Three victims were deceased at the scene, a fourth died enroute to a hospital, and the involved truck driver was not injured."

Friday at approximately 5:55 PM, a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban occupied by the four family members was southbound on Highway 95 near milepost 107 when it collided near the center of the highway with a northbound 2007 Peterbilt commercial truck towing a semi-trailer loaded with clothing items.

After impacting the truck, the Chevrolet Suburban went off the west side of the highway and the commercial truck remained in the center of the highway. Both vehicles caught fire and were destroyed.

Three of the victims were in the vehicle and are identified as driver 42-year old Joseph John Koudelka IV, 11-year old Justin Koudelka and 14-year old Joshua Koudelka. The fourth victim, 17-year old Joseph Koudelka V, was pronounced deceased while enroute to a Winnemucca, Nevada-area hospital, according to Hastings.

He says the truck's driver, 52-year old Lloyd Roger Putman from Kuna, Idaho was not injured.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Ontario Area Command office, with the assistance of an OSP crash reconstrutionist, are continuing the investigation which will ultimately confirm how the crash happened. It is knt known if people in the crash were wearing their seatbelts.

Hastings says assistance at the scene was provided by the Malheur County Sheriff's Office, Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff's Office, ODOT, the McDermott Fire Department, and Jordan Valley medics.

Investigators cleared the scene about 3:00 AM, and flaggers were to remain in the area to shuttle traffic through using one lane due to pavement fire damage.

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The Defeated

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This is so sad, these men were the last of the Koudelka's. Bonnie Riggs of McMinnville is their 2nd cousin.

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