Crash Kills One and Injures 8 Near Mt. Hood Meadows

OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

Photos: Oregon State Police

(MOUNT HOOD, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a Saturday morning two-vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 35 about five miles north of Mt. Hood Meadows that left one person dead and eight injured.

OSP Sergeant Julie Wilcox says Saturday at approximately 10:28 a.m. a 1992 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle driven by 16-year old Justin Wayne O'Neal of Battleground, Washington was southbound with two other teenagers on Highway 35 near milepost 69 on snow/ice-covered roadway conditions.

"The GMC Yukon was attempting to pass another vehicle when O'Neal lost control into the path of a northbound 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with six occupants," Wilcox said.

The Jeep's driver, 23-year old Emmanuel Torres of Madras, attempted to veer to the right to avoid the GMC Yukon. Despite an attempt to avoid the GMC Yukon, the Jeep was struck in the driver's side and came to a rest in a ditch along the highway.

Emmanuel Torres was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints.

The other Jeep occupants were the right front passenger and wife of the driver, 23-year old Marjean Louise Alonso, was using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The middle right seat passenger, Marjean's sister, 27-year old Antonia Lynn Alonso of Warm Springs, was not using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The vehicle's middle center seat passenger, Antonia's son, 11-year old Isaac Leo Reynoso of Warm Springis, was not using safety restraints and transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University with serious injuries.

The middle left seat passenger was occupied by the victim's daughter, 6-year old Letticia Yasmon Torres, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown.

The left rear seat passenger was the victim's son, 5-year old Jose Damian Torres. He was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with serious injuries. Safety restraint use is unknown.

Justin O'Neal was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital, then taken by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University. Safety restraint use is unknown.

Two passengers were in the GMC. They are identified as 16-year old Josh David Muonio and 15-year old Justin Theodore David, both of Battleground, Washington who was t

The right front passenger, Josh Mounio, was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital. Justin David was transported by ambulance to Hood River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was riding as the center passenger, and police say he was only using a lap safety restraint.

OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Parkdale Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene. Highway 35 was closed about two hours.

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What a tragedy. Parents, buckle up your kids and don't let your teenagers drive their friends in the snow in a large SUV. What a devastating blow to this family. My sympathies to all the innocent victims.

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