Corvallis, OR : Driver in Springhill crash dies on Saturday, December 17th 2016

At least one driver has died following anasty winter mix of rain, sleet and ice that slammed into the mid-valley on Wednesday. The conditions snarled traffic and caused multiple traffic crashes. Two avalanches were reported on Highway 20 near Santiam Pass.

A single-vehicle critical-injury rollover crash closed Springhill Drive near N.W. Winn Drive Wednesday afternoon. The accident is believed to have been caused by an icy road surface.

According to a Benton County Sheriff's Office news release, Barbara Mulkey, 58, of Albany, was driving northbound on Springhill Road, just north of N.W. Winn Drive, in a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. She lost control around a corner, went across the roadway and collided with a ditch. The Jeep rolled and came to rest on its roof facing north in the southbound lane.

Medics from the Albany Fire Department extricated Mulkey, who had suffered critical injuries, and transported her to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis by ambulance. Mulkey was pronounced dead Friday morning, according to Benton County Sheriff's Office.

The Benton County Multi-Agency Traffic Collision Investigation team also responded. The roadway was closed for about two hours.

Deputies are investigating the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. David Iverson at 541-766-6858.

A rollover was reported on Oakville Road on Wednesday afternoon, and two more accidents occurred on Interstate 5 north of Albany. Multiple crashes were reported in the mid-valley through the evening.

Two avalanches about 30 minutes apart Wednesday afternoon closed Highway 20 about two miles west of the Santiam Pass, according to the Oregon State Police.

The first avalanche was reported about 2:30 p.m., and a second event was reported in the same area about 30 minutes later.

It was unknown if the event caused any damage to vehicles. No injuries have been reported.

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck cameras noted that the Santiam Pass was snowy and cold, with temperatures as low as 10 degrees Wednesday afternoon. Some areas of the Cascades were expected to see as many as 13 inches of snow.

Snow chains or traction tires were required.

ODOT has imposed a chain requirement on Interstate 5 from Albany to Portland.

Linn County Roadmaster Darrin Lane described Wednesday’s weather in the mid-valley as “Yucky … really yucky.”

With temperatures bouncing around 32 degrees, the mid-valley experienced everything from rain to freezing rain to snow.

“So far, the weather has behaved as forecast over the last couple days,” Lane said. “The weather folks predicted snow and freezing rain in the valley tapering off later in the day and then maybe freezing again later in the day.”

Lane said his staff was on alert and had sanding trucks, plows and dicer units in place.

About 2:30 p.m., crews were watching the higher elevations in the Scio area, but rain was continuing and snow had yet to fall.

Retired school teacher Mary Betts, who lives on Whiskey Butte between Sweet Home and Cascadia, said there had been a light dusting of snow Wednesday morning — she described it as being like powdered sugar — but the rest of the day it only rained.

Several mid-valley schools either cancelled classes entirely, or sent students home early.

As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, school districts in Corvallis, Philomath, Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home had announced they would be closed on Thursday. Linn-Benton Community College will also be closed Thursday. The Linn Benton Loop Express bus canceled its Thursday service. State offices said they would open at noon Thursday. (For an updated list, see www.democratherald.com.)

The Fairview Mennonite Church at 35100 Goltra Road S.E. cancelled its Wednesday evening Christmas Pageant performance, but it will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Driver in Springhill crash dies