Pendleton man among three killed in Oregon crash

Published 1:00 pm Thursday, February 11, 2021

CLATSOP COUNTY — A Pendleton man was among three people killed in a crash on Wednesday, Feb. 10, northwest of Portland, according to police.

Oregon State Police said troopers and emergency personnel responded to a crash involving two vehicles just after 10 a.m. on U.S. Highway 26 in Clatsop County.

Walter Smith, 21, of Pendleton, was driving a Mercedes station wagon west when he lost control, slid sideways into the eastbound lanes of Highway 26 and collided with a Toyota Tacoma operated by Natalie Swauger, 30, of Seaside.

Smith and his passengers — Erick Fadness, 20, of Decorah, Iowa, and a 16-year-old female from Portland — all suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead, according to state police. 

Swauger was transported by air ambulance to a Portland hospital.

Speed is believed to be a contributing factor, police said.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Seaside Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation.

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