Portland, OR (September 17, 2022) – The Oregon State Police responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident in the McMinnville area that claimed the lives of two people. During the afternoon hours on Thursday, the Oregon State Police troopers were dispatched to a crash on Highway 18.

Reports from authorities show that 62-year-old Richard Humphrey was driving a silver Hyundai Santa Fe on Highway 18 during the afternoon hours on September 15. As he attempted to pass a gray Acura MDX, the two vehicles collided. The impact of the crash caused the Hyundai to crash head-on into a dump truck near mile marker 42.

Humphrey and his passenger, 77-year-old Patricia Humphrey, both suffered fatal injuries. The two victims were pronounced deceased at the scene. Authorities confirmed that the dog also passed away due to the injury suffered in the crash.

No one else was injured in this crash.

The Oregon State Police investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.

We offer our condolences to the families of Patricia Humphrey and Richard Humphrey at this time.

Fatal Car Accidents in Oregon

Vehicle collisions in Oregon take the lives of hundreds of people annually. There are many different factors that can cause a car accident, and it is hard to know which one was responsible for a particular crash. However, there are some common causes of fatal car accidents in Oregon.

Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents, and Oregon has several laws in place about distracted driving. In Oregon, it is illegal to text or talk on a phone while driving, and it is also illegal to use any electronic device while driving unless the device is specifically designed for hands-free use.

Another common cause of fatal car accidents in Oregon is drunk driving. Over 30% of all fatal car crashes in Oregon involve a driver who has been drinking alcohol. This statistic is even higher among young drivers – over half of all drinking drivers who killed someone in Oregon were under the age of 21.

Weather can also be a factor in fatal car accidents. If it is cold outside, people are more likely to drive slower than usual because they are afraid of getting stuck on the roads. This can lead to collisions with other vehicles. In warm weather, drivers may be more likely to speed and drive without regard for their safety or the safety of others.

If your loved one has died as a result of an auto collision, a wrongful death lawyer in Portland can help you pursue legal action against the responsible party.

Our lawyers at Kivel & Howard can help your family get justice after losing a loved one. He will help you file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party and seek the maximum amount of compensation for your damages.

Our lawyers can meet with you for a free consultation at your earliest. Contact our team at (503) 796-0909 and (503) 802-4800 to see how we can help you.

Note:  We utilize several outside sources when creating this accident news post for Kivel & Howard.  Our sources include news and media outlets, state and local police incident reports as well as statements taken from individuals who have witnessed the accident.  Because of this, the facts surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our writing staff.  If you find any information that is inaccurate in our story, let us know and we will correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  We will remove this post from our site upon request.

Disclaimer: These posts are written with the intent to provide Oregonians with overall driving and safety information in an effort to reduce the number of serious accidents that take place on our roads and highways. These posts are not intended to provide medical or legal advice of any kind.  The photograph used in this story is not representative of the actual accident scene.