Fatal on Hwy. 6, July 29

Oregon State Police (OSP), with the assistance of the Tillamook County District Attorney’s Office, is continuing the investigation into Sunday afternoon’s fatal traffic crash that occurred on Highway 6 east of Lees Camp in Tillamook County. The initial investigation led the arrest of a Portland woman located and stopped in Washington County whose vehicle was identified by witnesses as causing the crash.  On July 27, 2014 at approximately 4:00 p.m., a 2001 Chrysler Sebring driven by RUSSEL JOHN FALOTICO, age 56, from Beaverton, was eastbound on Highway 6 near milepost 27 when a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle attempted to pass the Chrysler in a no passing zone. A witness traveling westbound said the Hyundai attempted to move back into the eastbound lane to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle, forcing the Chrysler off the roadway into a gravel pullout. The Chrysler’s driver lost control, slid into the westbound lane and collided with a westbound 2004 Jeep Wrangler driven by SHILO MARIE WALTERS, age 36, from Newberg.  The Hyundai continued eastbound from the scene without stopping.  Upon arrival of emergency responders, the Chrysler’s driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The passenger in the Jeep Wrangler identified as RICHARD R. WALTERS, age 43, from Newberg, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with serious, non-life threatening injuries. SHILO WALTERS was transported by ground ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.  Investigators received information from witnesses at the scene that prior to the crash the operators of the Chrysler and Hyundai were involved in “road rage” behavior. This information led OSP to request law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the Hyundai.  At approximately 5:04 p.m., information from Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Beaverton Police Department led to the driver being stopped by Beaverton police eastbound on Highway 26 near Cedar Hills Boulevard. An OSP trooper responded from the crash scene as part of the ongoing investigation and subsequently arrested the Hyundai’s driver, TRISHA JO HOMAN, age 45, from Portland, on the following charges:  * Criminally Negligent Homicide; * Assault in the Third Degree; * Reckless Driving; * Recklessly Endangering Another Person; * Felony Hit & Run.  The trooper transported HOMAN to Tillamook County Jail where she was lodged on the charges. According to jail staff, she posted bail and was released to appear at a date and time to be set.