SCOTTSBURG, Ore. - Oregon State Police are investigating a Saturday afternoon four-vehicle fatal traffic crash that left one person dead and six others injured on Oregon Highway 38 east of Scottsburg, Ore., in Douglas County.

Police say the victim's vehicle caught fire. The victim has not been identified.

The collision happened just before 3 p.m. Saturday when State Police received a report of a multiple vehicle crash near milepost 20, between Elkton and Scottsburg.

OSP Sergeant Lynn Withers said the preliminary investigation indicates a Toyota Sequoia driven by John Flaxel, 72, of Coos Bay was westbound on Highway 38 approaching three eastbound vehicles when it crossed the center-line and sideswiped the first vehicle, a Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Konrad W. Kennelly, 50, from Port Angeles, Wash.

After sideswiping the pickup, the Toyota continued into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a second vehicle causing it to land off the highway where it caught fire.

A third eastbound vehicle, a Chrysler minivan driven by Shirley A. Powell, 59, of Sutherlin, Ore., saw the collision and steered to the right to avoid the Toyota. The minivan came to a stop off the highway in a ditch.

The vehicle that caught fire was extensively damaged. Its unidentified operator was deceased at the scene.

The Ford F-150 pickup came to a stop overturned in the middle of the highway. Kennelly and passenger Martha Xitco, 50, from Port Angeles, Wash., received minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Bay Area Hospital in Reedsport, Ore.

Flaxel went to Bay Area Hospital for an evaluation, and was transported to Eugene, Ore., by air ambulance after it was discovered he was bleeding internally. His passenger/wife, Joy Flaxel, was transported by air ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital at River Bend in Eugene.

Shirley Powell and passenger/husband Evert Powell, 59, were transported with minor injuries by ambulance to Bay Area Hospital.

OSP troopers from the Roseburg Area Command office are continuing the investigation with the assistance of an OSP crash re-constructionist.

Highway 38 was closed 3 hours before being opened to one lane.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Elkton Fire Department, Scottsburg Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene.

The medical examiner is working to help identify the victim.