Umatilla County, OR. – Official Release: On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash in Umatilla County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Buick Lacrosse, operated by Celestino Chavarria Nunez (65) of Pasco (WA), was headed southbound on Hwy. 395 near milepost 12, turning left onto the Interstate 84 on-ramp. The Buick struck a red Toyota CHR, operated by Tabitha J. Ritzer (41) of Hermiston, head-on that was traveling northbound on Hwy. 395.
The Buick operator (Nunez) was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
A Buick passenger, Rosa Maria Badillo (74) of Pasco (WA), was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Buick passenger Guadalupe Flores-Mendoza (81) of Pasco (WA) was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Buick passenger J. Eleazar Flores (59) of Pasco (WA) was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The operator of the Toyota (Ritzer) and a 10-year-old female were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The highway was impacted for three hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Stanfield Police Department, Lift Flight, Echo Fire, Umatilla County Fire District #1, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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.
Oregon State Police
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