GOVERNMENT CAMP -- A Madras man died and several family members were seriously injured in a two-car accident mid-morning Saturday on Oregon 35 about five miles north of Mount Hood Meadows that also left three Battleground, Wash., teens hurt.
Emmanuel Torres, 23, was the driver of a 1992 Jeep Cherokee that was struck by a 1994 GMC Yukon driven by Justin W. O'Neal, 16, of Battle Ground.
Oregon State Police Sgt. Julie Wilcox said O'Neal was southbound and tried to pass a vehicle when he lost control in the path of the
oncoming Cherokee. Torres tried to veer to the right but the Yukon struck his Cherokee on the driver's side. The Cherokee came to rest in a ditch.
Torres wife Marjean L. Alonso, 23, was in the front passenger seat. She was taken to Hood River hospital. She and Torres were both wearing seat belts, Wilcox said.
Alonso's sister Antonia L. Alonso, 27, of Warm Springs, was the right side passenger in the middle seat. She was taken to Hood River hospital with non-life threating injuries. She was not using seat belts.
Antonia Alonso's son Isaace L. Reynoso, 11, sat next to her. He was taken by Lifeflight to Legacy Emanuel Hosptial with serious injuries. He was not wearing seat belts. Torres daughter, Letticia Y. Torres, 6, was flown to Emanuel with serious injuries. Her seat belt use is unknown.
Torres son Jose D. Torres, 5, was on the left side in the rear seat. He was also flown to Emanuel. His seat belt use is not known.
Yukon driver O'Neal was seriously injured, first taken by ambulance to Hood River hospital, then by Lifeflight to OHSU. His seat belt use is not known.
His front passenger Josh D. Muonio, 16, was taken to Hood River hospital. He was using only the lap portion of his belt, said Wilcox. Justin T. David, 15, sat in the center of the second seat. He was taken to Hood River hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Wilcox said he too was only using the lap portion of the belt.
The highway was closed for most of Saturday.
