Police: Two dead in rollover crash near Dallas, Ore.

By KATU/KVAL Staff and News Wires Published: Nov 15, 2009 at 10:22 AM PST Last Updated: Nov 15, 2009 at 4:36 PM PST
The results of a roll-over crash Sunday morning, on Highway 22 near Dallas.
The Dodge Neon involved in a Sunday morning roll-over crash, on Highway 22 near Dallas, that ejected the 19-year-old driver and an 11-year-old twin boy - killing both and leaving the boy's twin and other family members injured and grieving. Photo by Oregon State Police

DALLAS, Ore. - Oregon State Police and local emergency responders remain on scene as the investigation continues into an early Sunday morning single-vehicle traffic crash on Highway 22. This highway is near Dallas, a town 15 miles west of Salem.

Police said wet streets and alcohol could be a factor.

The driver and a passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene. An infant and child are reported as critically injured.

Just before 5 a.m. Sunday morning, a 2003 Dodge Neon with six occupants was eastbound on a straight two lane stretch of Highway 22 near milepost 14, reports investigating officer Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Roger Reid.

Reid reports that the Dodge Neon traveled onto the shoulder for about 200 yards before its male driver attempted to steer back onto the roadway and lost control. Police have determined that the car rolled about five times before coming to a rest on its wheels on the highway shoulder. 

At least three occupants, including the driver, were ejected:
  • The driver was 19-year-old Jose Ruben Pacheco Medina. His last-known address is in McMinnville. Police report that Medina did not have a valid operator's license, and he was not using safety restraints. He was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
  • The ejected 11-year-old rear-seat male passenger was Geobanny Esparaza. He also was not wearing a seat or shoulder belt, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
  • A 4-month-old male infant, Erick Medina, was in an unbuckled car seat in the left-rear seating area and also was ejected. The infant was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with critical injuries. 
Injured victims include:
  • The twin of the 11 year old that died, 11-year-old male rear-seat passenger Jonathan Esparaza, was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital. He was then transferred by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with critical injuries.
  • Another rear-seated unrestrained 14-year-old male passenger, Brandon Esparaza, was transported by ambulance to West Valley Hospital in Dallas with non-life threatening injuries.
  • The children's mother, 38-year-old Cuzana Rubio Ruiz from McMinnville, was in the right-front seat and was using safety restraints. She received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital. She was treated and released.
According to family members, the infant is the child of the driver and adult female passenger.
 
Oregon State Police troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Troopers are assisted at the scene by Polk County Sheriff's Office, Dallas and Rickreall fire departments, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. 

Highway 22 was closed about 4 1/2 hours at the scene of the crash.