California woman killed in Highway 22 crash
VALLEY JUNCTION - A Southern California woman was killed Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 22 just west of the Valley Junction turnoff.
The Oregon State Police identified the victim as Eliza Munoz Esquivel, 61, of Ventura. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
OSP gave this account of the crash that was reported shortly after 3 p.m.:
Rosa Maria Mendez, 58, was driving a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica mini van eastbound. She was accompanied by five family members, all from Ventura.
Mendez rounded a sharp right-hand corner, lost control of the vehicle, drove across the westbound lane and crashed into the ditch. Esquivel was sitting in the right-rear passenger seat.
In addition to Rosa Mendez, Maria Estella Lopez, 54; Isaias Lopez, 68, and Romelia Munoz Esquibel, 61, were transported by ground ambulance to Salem Hospital. A nine-year-old male was flown by Life Flight helicopter from the Spirit Mountain Casino to Salem Hospital and later transferred to a Portland trauma hospital.
Only two passengers were wearing the lap portion of their seat belts.
A Sheridan/Southwest Polk/West Valley Fire District medic unit and Polk County sheriff's deputies arrived on scene first and attempted to resuscitate one of the occupants, according to a spokesperson.
In addition to that agency, personnel from the Dallas Fire & EMS and McMinnville Fire Department, along with Grand Ronde Tribal police responded. Spirit Mountain security provided assistance.
Comments
Joel
That is such a dangerous area to drive in but it sounds like this was probably just a sad case of driver error (too much speed)that could have happened on any highway. So tragic. Condolences to the surviving family members.
Lulu
Well, I expect not wearing seat belts may have contributed to the fatality/injuries.