New Life Worship Center van crash- 2 killed 14 injured

2009-11-18 04:06:50 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury)

Legal news for Oregon personal injury attorneys. A church van crashed and overturned on I-84, which left two people dead.

Oregon personal injury attorneys alerts- A van carrying Life Worship Center members crashed and rolled over on I-84.

Baker City, OR—A Thursday morning, November 12, 2009 rollover crash killed two members of the New Life Worship Center and injured fourteen others when the van left the icy highway and rolled several times. The 2002 Ford E-350 van overturned on Interstate 84 around 5:20 a.m., just five miles from Baker City, as reported by the Salem-News.

The Oregon State Patrol (OSP) stated “As the van was westbound on icy highway conditions, it drove off the roadway and rolled multiple times coming to rest on its top about 50 yards from the westbound lanes near a bordering frontage road.” The van was driven by Nicole Elaine Byrd, 25, of Federal Heights, Colorado, with 15 other passengers, when the deadly crash occurred. Police officials reported 13 out of the 16 occupants were ejected in the wreck. It is currently unknown what cause the van to overturn.

All 16 victims were rushed by emergency medical services (EMS) teams to La Grande, Baker City, and Boise, Idaho hospitals to be treated by doctors and nurses. Two of the passengers, Joshua Pischura, 30, of Geneva, Ohio; and Taune Nicole Winter Pepper, 23, of Deer Trail, Colorado, died as a result of their injuries. Five of the victims, Aaron Stearling Werntz, 19, of Freeport, Illinois; Christine Sandra Aki, 18, of Golden, Colorado; Phillip Joel Harris, 24, of Attalla, Alabama; Katherine Elizaneth Darlene Pischura, 18, of Geneva, Ohio; and William Chris Rodgerss, 22, of Lakewood, Colorado, are currently being cared for in the Intensive Care Unit at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. OSP investigators and accident reconstruction teams are currently investigating the wreck.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Oregon personal injury lawyers.