The Madras Pioneer

Highway 26 rollover kills one, injures two

Photo courtesy of OSP

A Chevrolet pickup went off U.S. Highway 26 and rolled Jan. 6, killing a Madras man and injuring the driver and another passenger, both from Warm Springs.

January 11, 2012

Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into Friday night's single vehicle fatal traffic crash that killed a Madras man and injured two Warm Springs women on U.S. Highway 26 about three miles north of Madras.

According to Trooper Joshua Nagle, on Jan. 6, at 9:36 p.m., a 1991 Chevrolet pickup driven by Kathy Ruth Danzuka, 47, of Warm Springs, was northbound on U.S. 26 near milepost 113 when she lost control, crossed the southbound lane and traveled off the highway into a ditch where it rolled at least once.

Danzuka and her two passengers were not using safety restraints and were ejected from the pickup.

Passenger Chad Willis Hamilton, 47, of Madras, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Danzuka and passenger Rebecca June Danzuka, 45, from Warm Springs, were injured and transported by ambulance to Mountain View Hospital in Madras.

Kathy Danzuka was then taken by AirLink to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for further treatment of serious injuries.

OSP troopers from the Madras and Bend offices are continuing the investigation and alcohol is being investigated as a contributing factor.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, Oregon Department of Transportation and local fire personnel assisted during the initial investigation. The highway was closed for 2 1/2 hours.