MALHEUR COUNTY, Ore. (20 October 2026) - On Monday, October 19, 2026, at approximately 2:09 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 26 near milepost 244 in Malheur County. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a green Hyundai Santa Fe, operated by Autumn Jean Hansen (41) of Vale, was eastbound on Highway 26 when the vehicle turned into the path of a westbound white Ford Expedition, operated by Douglas Alan Sharp (62), of John Day. 

The operator of the Hyundai (Hansen) was declared deceased at the scene. Hansen was not believed to have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.  

The operator of the Ford (Sharp) sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

Three juveniles in the Hyundai were flown to a regional hospital with serious injuries.

Witnesses reported the Hyundai may have been attempting a U-turn in front of the Ford, and it had also been observed making a U-turn prior to the crash. 

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Vale Fire & Ambulance, Treasure Valley Paramedics, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.   

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)  
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.