POLK COUNTY, OR - The Oregon State Police (OSP) reports that on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 6:17 p.m., OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy-22W, near milepost 20, in Polk County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chrysler Sebring, operated by Mary Louise Nathe (73) of Salem, attempted to turn left onto Oak Grove Road and entered the path of a westbound Ford Expedition, operated by Karen Jean Bell-Stanerson (53) of Salem. The Ford struck the passenger side of the Chrysler in a side-impact collision.
A passenger in the Chrysler, Amanda Rose Nathe (41) of Salem, was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Chrysler (M. Nathe) was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital.
The operator of the Ford (Bell-Stanerson) suffered reported minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. An unsafe turn is considered the primary cause of the crash.
OSP was assisted by Dallas Fire, Polk County Fire, and ODOT.
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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.
