UMATILLA COUNTY, OR – Oregon State Police (OSP) report that on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, OSP responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash in Umatilla County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Buick Lacrosse, operated by Celestino Chavarria Nunez, age 65, of Pasco ,WA was headed southbound on Hwy. 395 near milepost 12, turning left onto the Interstate 84 on-ramp.
The Buick struck a red Toyota CHR, operated by Tabitha J. Ritzer, age 41 of Hermiston, OR head-on that was traveling northbound on Hwy. 395.
The Buick operator (Nunez) was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
A Buick passenger, Rosa Maria Badillo, age 74, of Pasco, WA was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Buick passenger Guadalupe Flores-Mendoza, age 81, of Pasco, WA was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Buick passenger J. Eleazar Flores, age 59, of Pasco, WA was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The operator of the Toyota (Ritzer) and a 10-year-old female were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The highway was impacted for three hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Stanfield Police Department, Lift Flight, Echo Fire, Umatilla County Fire District #1, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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