Crash sends six to hospital

McMinnville police officers and medical personnel responded about 4 p.m. Friday to a five-vehicle crash on Highway 99W near Northeast McDonald Lane. Six people were hospitalized with injuries, none thought to be life-threatening.

A few minutes later, a three-vehicle crash was reported at Northeast Lafayette Avenue and McDaniel Lane. It produced no injures.

Sgt. Dwayne Willis gave this account of the Highway 99W pileup:

Patricia Compton, 68, of 2616 N.E. Pinot Noir Drive, McMinnville, was southbound on Highway 99W in a 2003 Buick Rendezvous when she fell asleep at the wheel, crossed through a left-hand turn lane and entered the northbound lanes. Her car collided with a 2006 Chevrolet HHR driven by James Walters, 88, of 1155 N.W. Sunrise Court, McMinnville.

Kathryn Strobel, 52, of 822 S.W. Hawthorne St., McMinnville, was behind Walters in a 2008 Toyota RAV4. She couldn’t stop in time and rear-ended his vehicle.

After the initial impact, Compton’s vehicle continued on and collided head-on with a 1996 Ford Aerostar van driven by Edna VanTassel, 58, of Lincoln City.

Samantha Lund, 23, of 663 Wilson St., Lafayette, was traveling behind VanTassel in a 1997 Honda Accord. She tried to maneuver around the van, but failed.

The five drivers were transported by ambulance to the Willamette Valley Medical Center. A passenger in Strobel’s vehicle, 17-year-old Kristen Strobel, was taken to the hospital by a relative.

The northbound lanes remained closed for about an hour. Compton was cited for careless driving.

Anyone with information is asked to call officer Sam Elliott at 503-434-7307.

Trooper Creed Cummings of the Oregon State Police gave this account of the Lafayette Avenue crash:

Maxine Bell Ruff, 58, of 558 E. Johnson St., Carlton, was northbound in a 2011 Dodge Challenger. Maria G. Soto De Rodriguez, 37, of 2192 N.E. Evans St., No. 17, was immediately behind her in a 1996 Dodge Neon.

When they pulled up behind a school bus stopped near the railroad tracks, they were rear-ended by Brandon James Martin, 21, of 455 N.E. 17th St., McMinnville, in a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse. His vehicle struck the Neon, pushing it into the Challenger.

Martin and De Rodriguez each had three passengers. They ranged in age from 2 years old to 29.

De Rodriguez was cited for driving while suspended. Martin was cited for following too close.