A 42-year-old Newport woman was killed early Thursday on Highway 20 four miles east of Newport when the car she was driving crossed into the opposing lane, collided with one vehicle and then was hit by a second.

Oregon State Police said Heather Maria Paz Hosey was driving east at 7:07 a.m. when her GMC Terrain crossed into the westbound lane for unknown reasons and collided head-on a Dodge Journey driven by Ruston L. Thommen, 46, of Halsey.

Police said Hosey’s SUV spun around and was struck by a Dodge Dakota driven by Christian L. Sagrero, 19, of Newport, who was behind Thommen’s vehicle. Thommen’s vehicle caught fire and was engulfed in flames, police said.

Police said Hosey died at the scene. Thommen was able to get out of his burning vehicle and taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities hospital for unspecified injuries. Sagrero had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Hosey’s death was the first this year on the busy Highway 20 between Newport and Philomath and the first since last October. In 2024 nine people died in Highway 20 wrecks. Seven of the nine people who died on Highway 20 last year were killed in four head-on collisions, according to state police records.