Pedestrian struck on Highway 18

SHERIDAN — A Willamina woman was struck by a vehicle while walking on Highway 18 a few miles east of Sheridan Tuesday morning.

She was identified as Christine Helen Roberts, 57, according to Capt. Brandon Bowdle of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. She was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital and transferred to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where she was reported in stable condition.

Bowdle gave this account of the incident:

Roberts’ vehicle broke down about three miles from where she was struck. She left the emergency flashers on and was walking in the westbound lane of travel when she was struck by a 1994 Honda sedan driven by Shane Michael Hayes, 48, of McMinnville. He remained at the scene.

“She was called in as a traffic hazard,” Bowdle said. “A deputy had just left (the sheriff’s office) to check on her when it was reported a pedestrian had been struck.”

He said there was little Hayes could have done to avoid striking Roberts. She was wearing dark clothing and it was not until the headlights of an eastbound vehicle “lit her up” that he observed her on the highway.