September 23, 2024 11:05 a.m.

A Newport woman died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 138W on Saturday.

An Oregon State Police report said at 12:15 p.m. troopers responded to the wreck by Yellow Creek between milepost 12 and 13, west of Sutherlin.The preliminary investigation indicated that a pickup operated by 23-year-old Chandler Sulffridge of Roseburg, was passing multiple westbound vehicles in the eastbound lane. An eastbound SUV, driven by 78-year-old Shelley Sue McLaughlin, attempted to avoid the pickup by traveling on the eastbound shoulder. However, the pickup also entered the eastbound shoulder in an effort to avoid a collision, and the vehicles collided head-on.

McLaughlin was declared deceased at the scene. Sulffridge suffered reported serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sutherlin Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation.