Washington man killed, 3 injured in crash on Highway 18 in Polk County

One person died and others were injured in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 18 over the weekend in Polk County.

Oregon State Police troopers and medics responded to a crash around 5:40 pm Saturday on the highway near milepost 17 east of Grand Ronde, according to a release from state police.

Troopers allege Gary Young, 76, of Naches, Washington, was driving west in a black Mercedes 4D when he crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a gray Dodge van.

The driver of a GMC pickup then hit the Dodge van, police said.

Young died at the scene.

The Mercedes passenger, a 63-year-old woman from Naches, suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital. The driver and passenger of the Dodge van, a 49-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man from Monmouth, respectively, were also taken to the hospital with injuries, the police said.

The driver and passenger of the GMC pickup, a 50-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman from Vancouver, Washington, respectively, were uninjured.

Highway 18 was closed for about four hours.

Grand Ronde fire and police departments and officials from the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted state police during the crash.

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. You can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.