Oregon State Police Sergeant Brad Hessel surveys the scene of a crash on Hebo Road that took the life of a Willamina High School senior.

Chrissy Ragulsky/NewsRegister.com

GRAND RONDE - A Willamina High School senior was killed and three classmates were injured about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when their speeding Ford Ranger pickup collided with a tractor-trailer rig on a curve.

The crash occurred about a mile west of the Highway 18 junction on a Polk County stretch of Highway 22. The students were headed to school, which convenes at 9 on Wednesdays, an hour later than the other four days of the week.

Killed was Tamaralie "Kahea" L. Coila, 18, 46970 Highway 22, Grand Ronde, who had transferred from Canby High School for her senior year. Sgt. Brad Hessel of the Oregon State Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Injured were senior Anthony Thomas Gorretta, 18; his freshman brother, Vincent, 14, both of 29715 Joe Day Road, Grand Ronde, and senior Jeff Haggard, 17, of the Highway 22 address. Coila was living with his family.

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Haggard was flown by REACH Air Medical Services helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Listed in serious condition this morning, he sustained a broken leg, arm and ribs, a punctured lung and kidney and liver injures, according to Willamina School Superintendent Gus Forster.

Vincent Gorretta was flown by Life Flight helicopter to the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Listed in good condition this morning, he sustained facial fractures, Forster said.

Anthony Gorretta was transported by ground ambulance to the Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville. Released following emergency room treatment, his injuries were limited to a cut on the head, by Forster's account.

"It's a great loss for the students and staff," Willamina Principal Tim France said of Coila's death. "I think it's similar to a family member passing away. It's hard."

All of the students were wearing seat belts and air bags deployed in their vehicle, an extended cab pickup. The air ambulances landed in a parking lot at the nearby Spirit Mountain Casino to pick up Haggard and the younger Gorretta.

The state police gave this account:

The students were eastbound in the 1994 pickup with Anthony Gorretta at the wheel. His younger brother was sitting next to him. Coila was sitting in the right rear and Haggard in the left rear.

Their pickup was negotiating a right-hand curve when it went out of control, crossed the centerline and struck a westbound Kenworth tractor-trailer rig nearly head-on.

The truck driver, Raybon Dean Thompson, 38, of Cloverdale, was headed to Hebo with a load of corn silage. Belted in, he was not injured.

The impact left the students pinned inside the pickup. West Valley and Sheridan Fire District rescue personnel had to free them in order to render medical aid.

"Speed was a factor in this crash," said Senior Trooper Bridget Taylor, an eight-year crash reconstruction specialist for OSP.

The posted speed where the crash occurred is 25 in both directions. She said she hadn't yet determined how fast the pickup was going, but said it was well above 25.

Highway 22 is narrow and winding. The speed limit is 55 mph on straighter stretches, but lower limits are posted for curves.

"The truck wasn't going fast at all, probably the suggested speed through that curve," Taylor said. "It was fully loaded. There was nothing the driver could have done. He didn't see (the students' vehicle) until it was too late. They came through the curve and it was over and done with."

In addition to state police troopers and the medical and rescue personnel from the nearby districts, responders included Polk County Medical Examiner Dennis Fisher and an Oregon Department of Transportation crew. The Polk County District Attorney's office was notified of the crash.

Highway 22 remained closed for about five hours for cleanup and investigation. Traffic was routed onto Grand Ronde Road to the west and Hebo Road to the east.

Highway 18 traffic was not affected.

Coila's body was taken to Adamson's Sheridan Funeral Home. Arrangements are pending.