HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. — A 71-year-old Burns woman was killed Saturday afternoon when the utility terrain vehicle she was operating was struck by a car on Highway 78 in Harney County.
According to Oregon State Police, troopers responded at approximately 4 p.m. September 5 to a reported two-vehicle fatal crash near milepost 36.
The preliminary investigation found that Rae Jean Marie Neumann, 71, of Burns, was operating a yellow Kawasaki Teryx UTV southbound along the highway shoulder. The UTV attempted to cross the highway to enter a driveway when it was struck on the driver’s side by a southbound silver Mercedes E350.
The Mercedes, operated by Timothy John Dudzik, 86, of Carefree, Arizona, was unable to avoid the UTV. After the collision, the Mercedes left the roadway and came to rest on the northbound shoulder.
Neumann was thrown from the UTV and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Dudzik was reportedly not injured in the crash.
The highway was impacted for approximately 30 minutes while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene.
The Harney County Sheriff’s Office, Burns Police Department and Harney District Hospital Emergency Medical Services assisted Oregon State Police with the response.
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