Cops: Driver inhaled laughing gas before fatal crash
JEFFERSON, Ore. -- Police say a 23-year-old Albany woman inhaled laughing gas while driving, causing her to lose control of her vehicle and crash.
One of the passengers, a 16-year-old Junction City girl, died in the crash.
Police charged Falon Rae Williams, 23, with manslaughter in the second degree; two counts of assault in the second degree; and driving while under the influence of inhalants.
Investigators believe she inhaled nitrous oxide vapors from a tank, impairing her ability to drive a car and causing the accident.
Nitrous oxide is commonly known as "laughing gas."
The investigation is ongoing.
The Marion County Sheriff's office responded to the single vehicle crash outside of Jefferson, Ore., around 5 p.m. Monday. The 2002 Ford Taurus crashed into a tree, causing the airbags to deploy, according to police.
Rebekah Jo Ann Crisman, 16, of Junction City, Ore., was transported to Albany General Hospital where she later died from her injuries around 1 a.m. this morning.
Williams was treated and released at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, Ore.
Two other people were in the car at the time of the crash.
Michael Evan Matthews, 23, of Tangent, Ore., suffered a broken leg.
Paul Hartzell, 17, of Junction City, suffered internal injuries and was transported to Albany General Hospital before being transferred to Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland.
