CROOK COUNTY, OR - Oregon State Police report that on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 7:24 a.m., OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy-126, near milepost 6, in Crook County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Honda Civic, operated by Humberto Ruiz Vargas (24) of Prineville, drifted off the side of the roadway with the passenger side tires entering the gravel shoulder as it negotiated a left hand curve. The Honda overcorrected and crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and was struck on the passenger side by a Nissan Rogue, operated by Summer Ann Zimmerman (39) of Redmond.
The vehicles came to rest on the eastbound shoulder with the Nissan rolling to its passenger side.
The operator of the Honda, Ruiz Vargas was life flighted to an area hospital where he was declared deceased.
The operator of the Nissan (Zimmerman) and passenger, Harley Rose Isaacson (22) of Redmond, were both seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by Crook County Fire, Redmond Fire, Crooks County Sheriffs' Office, Redmond Police Department, and ODOT.
# # #
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state's roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.
