Woman killed in Highway 20 wreck

A young Salem woman died Friday afternoon when she lost control of her car and crashed nearly head-on with a commercial truck on Highway 20 about three miles east of the Santiam Junction.

The victim is identified as Kara Marie Copeland, age 20, from southeast Salem.

According to Oregon State Police, on December 29 at approximately 12:40 p.m., the 2001 Toyota Corolla driven by Copeland was westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 78 negotiating a slight right hand curve on an ice/snow covered road when she lost control.

The car crossed into the eastbound lane and collided nearly head-on with an eastbound 2001 Volvo truck towing a trailer. The vehicles came to rest blocking the westbound lane.

Copeland was pronounced dead at the scene. She was using safety restaints, and the car's airbags deployed.

The truck's driver, Ronnie L. Simmons, age 51, from Scappoose, was not injured. He was using safety restraints. The trailer was loaded with about 48,000 pounds of lumber, none of which reportedly spilled.

ODOT assisted with traffic control using the eastbound lane to shuttle traffic through in both directions. There is one lane in both directions at the crash scene.

Oregon State Police troopers from Albany and Bend Area Command offices responded to the crash. Sisters fire personnel also assisted.

The highway was completely reopened about 5:15 p.m.