Witness confirmed: 'narrowly missed before the head-on crash'

EAST OF NEWPORT, Ore. -- Oregon State Police found a witness to a head-on collision east of Newport.

The crash happened Saturday morning around 8:25 A.M. Police said Samantha Ferris of Newport was driving a blue Land Rover S.U.V. westbound on Highway 20 when -- for some reason -- the Land Rover sideswiped a white, compact passenger car, then crashed head-on into a Honda Pilot S.U.V. The Honda had three Toledo residents inside, Robert Kraft (driver, 46), Shannon Monroe (front-seat passenger, 42) and Michael Barker (rear-right passenger, 29).

The sideswiped car stayed at the scene long enough to call Newport Police, but left before Oregon State Police could get more information about the crash. The witness called police back and confirmed that the Land Rover barely missed his car before hitting the Pilot head-on.

Kraft and Monroe had serious injuries and were transported via helicopter to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Barker was released from Pacific Communities Hospital after a quick treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

Ferris, 16, went to the hospital with minor injuries, but a small dog in her car died. Following her treatment at the hospital police said she was cited to appear for DUII, reckless driving and three counts of second degree assault.

Officers report that everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.