Two men die in a head on crash that closed Highway 97 north of Madras for several hours Friday night around 5:30.

Apparently a commercial truck was traveling near milepost 89 when a group of vehicles began passing; but one of the vehicles did not have enough clearance to complete the pass and collided head on with another vehicle.

The two male drivers died at the scene.  An elderly female passenger in one of the vehicles was injured and taken to St. Charles-Madras with unspecified injuries.

One of the vehicles reportedly caught fire, sparking a small brush fire that the Jefferson County Fire District Number 1 was able to extinguish.

The victims' identities are expected to be released on Sunday.

Highway 97 was closed for about 2 hours; with the southbound lane reopening just before 8 p.m.  All lanes are now open, and the investigation is continuing.