Klamath County, OR. — Official Release: On Monday, March 31, 2025, at 8:46 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 176, in Klamath County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Buick LeSabre, operated by Leif Taylor Celusta (34) of Crescent, lost control, crossed into the southbound lane, and struck a southbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Robert Emil Mewes (58) of Madras.
The operator of the Buick (Celusta) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Kenworth (Mewes) was reportely uninjured.
The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed and roadway conditions are being considered primary causes of the crash.
OSP was assisted by Crescent Fire and ODOT.
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 the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of 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.
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