Two people died in a crash west of Harper early Wednesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon State Police).
VALE – A head-on crash west of Harper Wednesday afternoon killed a Medford resident and a California man and closed U.S. Highway 20.
The Oregon State Police said Richard Kozol, 78, of Medford and John Haynes, 72, of Palo Cedro, Calif., died at the scene near milepost 218.
Police said Kozol, driving a 2006 Gulfstream motorhome and towing a Suzuki Samurai east, crossed into the westbound lane for unknown reasons on a curve and hit Haynes driving a 2011 Ford F-250 going west. Haynes was also towing a 30-foot trailer. The passenger in the motorhome, Barbara Kozol, 73, also of Medford, and Haynes’ passenger, Debra Townsend, 67, of Palo Cedro, were injured and transported to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Ontario.
Police said the highway was closed for four hours.
Oregon State Police was assisted by the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, Vale Fire and Ambulance, Treasure Valley Paramedics, Ontario Fire Department and the state Transportation Department.
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