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| Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 20 east of Juntura in Malheur County | ||
| 12/02/2007 | ||
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Sergeant Mark Duncan Oregon State Police - Ontario Office: (541) 889-6469 A 16-year old Ontario male died Saturday morning in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 20 about eleven miles east of Juntura as he was driving away in a stolen vehicle after breaking into a pickup and stealing a rifle. On December 1, 2007 at approximately 8:30 a.m. WILLIAM RAY COLBERT, age 16, from Ontario, was driving a Pontiac Sunbird reportedly stolen earlier in Ontario. According to Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers investigating the crash, COLBERT was driving westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 208 when he pulled into a shoulder pull-out where an unoccupied pickup was parked. COLBERT broke out a window and stole a rifle out of the pickup, but unknown to him two hunters who were occupants of the pickup witnessed the break-in and theft. The hunters, WESLEY ALLISON, age 45, and CHRIS PAYNE, age 34, both from Ontario, confronted COLBERT about the witnessed crime. COLBERT drove away westbound from the scene on Highway 20. ALLISON and PAYNE attempted to follow COLBERT to get a license plate number on the vehicle he was driving. As COLBERT drove westbound near milepost 205 he failed to negotiate a curve, crossed over the eastbound lane and onto the gravel shoulder where the Pontiac rolled several times. COLBERT was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene. OSP troopers from the Ontario Area Command office are completing the crash investigation. Malheur County Sheriff's Office is investigating the car break-in and stolen vehicle incident. Vale ambulance responded to the scene and assisted. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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