Police ID seven victims of crash near Madras
Published 5:00 am Monday, May 25, 2009
Police on Sunday identified the seven victims of a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 97 south of Madras.
William Bunton, 66, of Bellingham, Wash., was driving a 2005 Nissan truck north on Highway 97 on Saturday when he crossed into the southbound lanes while looking at his fuel gauge, according to an Oregon State Police news release. He crashed head-on into a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix.
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Bunton and his wife, Shirley Bunton, 65, were injured in the crash and were taken to a hospital, the news release said.
Aldwin G. Keo, 20, of Eugene, was driving the Pontiac. He and his four passengers all suffered injuries, and also were taken to area hospitals. The passengers, all from Warm Springs, were Jeremiah Smith, 19; Luther Keo, 17; Andre Thomas, 16; and James Keo, 19.
All passengers in both vehicles were wearing seat belts, according to the news release.
Highway 97 was closed in both directions for about two hours.