Hwy. 97 Fatal, Klamath Co., March 25

Klamath County, Ore. 21 March 24- On Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 12:20 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy-97, near milepost 281, in Klamath County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford Econoline van, operated by Carl Francis Kollmar (44) of Klamath Falls, attempted to turn left into a driveway and entered the path of a northbound Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle, operated by Donny Kart Starr (51) of Turlock (CA). The vehicles collided head-on resulting in the Ford van being pushed backward into a southbound Ford Focus, operated by Kessandra Malan Boyd Zambrano (29) of Hoquiam (WA). A passenger in the Ford Econoline, Scott Lane Nelson (67) of Klamath Falls, was transported and later declared deceased at a local hospital. The operator of the Ford Econoline (Kollmar) reportedly suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The operator of the Peterbilt (Starr) was reportedly not injured. The operator of the Ford Focus (Boyd Zambrano) reportedly suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. The crash investigation is ongoing. OSP was assisted by District 1 Fire and ODOT.