Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 34 Under Investigation

CORVALLIS, Ore. – On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 5:16 pm, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a two-vehicle crash with a fatality on Highway 34 near Grange Hall Road, Philomath.

A male juvenile, who was a backseat passenger in a 2006 Ford Escape, was pronounced deceased while being transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center (GSRMC) due to injuries sustained in the collision.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 21-year-old female driver of a 1997 Ford F-350 was traveling westbound on Highway 34 when she struck the rear of the Ford Escape that was turning east onto Grange Hall Road.

The 26-year-old female driver of the Escape and her front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries and were treated at GSRMC.

The driver and passenger of the F-350 were not injured.

Highway 34 at Grange Hall Road was closed for approximately three hours while investigators processed the scene.
The BCSO would like to thank the Benton County District Attorney’s Office, Philomath Police Department, Philomath Fire Department, Corvallis Fire Department, and Willamette Valley First Responder Chaplains for their assistance.

The driver of the F-350 is cooperating with investigators. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Benton County Crash Team.

If you have any additional information or witnessed the crash, please contact BCSO at BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov or their tip line at 541-753-8477, re: case #2025-01009.