Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:00 am
A Scio teen was killed Monday when the farm vehicle he was driving was struck by a log truck, the Linn County Sheriff's Office reported.
Nathan L. Gourley, 16, of Scio, died at the scene. He was the operator a New Holland model 1075 Stackhand Cruiser used to pick up and stack bales of hay and straw.
The operator of the unloaded 1979 Kenworth log truck was Corey Charles Callsen, 35, of Stayton.
According to witnesses and Callsen's statement, at about 3:40 p.m., both vehicles were southbound on Richardson Gap Road. The farm vehicle Gourley was driving was loaded with baled hay and traveling at a lesser speed than the posted 55 mph. As the vehicles approached the intersection of Richardson Gap and Larwood Drive, the log truck, which was pulling a flatbed trailer, attempted to pass the farm vehicle.
Witnesses stated Gourley started to turn left from Richardson Gap onto Larwood Drive at about the same moment the log truck started the pass. The vehicles collided at the intersection. After impact, Gourley was ejected from the farm vehicle.
Both vehicles continued traveling southwest, coming to stop in a hay field on the west side of Richardson Gap Road. Upon coming to a stop, the log truck was on fire. Callsen managed to exit before the cab was engulfed in flames.
Callsen was transported to Santiam Memorial Hospital in Stayton with non-life threatening injuries.
Scio, Albany and Lebanon Fire Departments responded to the scene. A REACH helicopter was called but did not transport either of the victims.
Gourley's body was taken to Huston-Jost Funeral Home in Lebanon.
The Linn-County Multi-Agency Accident Investigation Team is investigating.