LA PINE, OR -- One person was killed in a fiery crash north of La Pine that shut down Highway 97 for six hours, Monday afternoon. State Police investigators say a Silverton man was northbound at 1:30 p.m. when, for an unknown reason, his pickup crossed into oncoming traffic, near Wickiup Junction.
He collided head-on with a semi-truck pulling a load of apple juice, causing the tractor-trailer to roll into the ditch. The pickup caught fire and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released
The driver of the semi, a 29-year-old Arizona man, was evaluated at St. Charles Bend for minor injuries.
UPDATE: Oregon State Police say the driver killed was 69-year-old Frederick Holmes Winkler, of Silverton.
