Douglas McEwen Killed and Erin Wyttenbach Injured in Umatilla County Accident on Highway 11

Umatilla County, Oregon (July 11, 2023) – 76-year-old Douglas Jack McEwen of Pendleton was killed, and Erin Terese Wyttenbach, 54, of Athena, was injured following a two-vehicle collision on Sunday afternoon in Umatilla County.

According to the Oregon State Police, the accident happened at about 1:47 p.m. on July 9 on Highway 11 and Highway 331.

Police said McEwen was heading southbound in a Chevrolet Silverado on Highway 11 when he did not yield to a northbound Ford Excursion and tried to turn left on Highway 331. The two cars ultimately crashed head-on.

McEwen was not wearing a seatbelt and was declared dead at the accident location.

Wyttenbach, the Ford driver, was hospitalized with injuries following the collision.

Authorities closed the northbound Highway 11 lane for three and a half hours for an on-scene investigation. 

The incident remains under investigation.