On July 31, 2016 at about 10:30AM, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a head-on collision on Highway 97 near milepost 214 (just south of the junction with Highway 138E, 10 miles south of Chemult). Preliminary investigation revealed a 2015 Honda Pilot was southbound on Highway 97 when it drifted across the centerline and struck a northbound 2005 Toyota Matrix head-on. The driver of the Toyota, Melissa Kay GiBSON, age 27, of Boise, Idaho, was declared deceased on scene by emergency personnel. Her passenger, Simona ARNAUTOV, age 22, of Oregon City, received non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center. The driver of the Honda, Elizabeth A BROWN, age 19, of Klamath Falls, also received non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center. Fatigue is being investigated as a contributing factor in the crash. The highway was closed for about an hour and a half until one lane was opened for alternating traffic. Both lanes were open by 4PM. OSP was assisted at the scene by Chemult Fire and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
