Oregon Man Arrested After Mt Hood Meadows Crash

Jason Bennett

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MT. HOOD, OR -- Oregon State Police (OSP) arrested a 21-year old Welches resident Tuesday afternoon in relation to a Sunday head-on traffic crash on Highway 35 south of Mt. Hood Meadows that injured two people, one seriously.

On January 24, 2010 at approximately 2:40 p.m. OSP, fire personnel from Parkdale and Hoodland Fire District, AMR ambulance and ODOT responded to a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 35 about six miles north of Highway 26 near milepost 64. OSP investigation indicates a 1989 Honda CRX driven by Jason W. Bennett, 21, from Welches, was southbound on snow-covered Highway 35 passing a line of southbound traffic at speeds estimated by witnesses near 60 mph. While passing the traffic, an approaching northbound 1995 Toyota Celica driven by Lenida Bilanovic, 20, from Beaverton, began to slow because of the oncoming Honda. BENNETT lost control while trying to get back into the southbound lane and collided head-on with the Toyota.

Jason Bennett was using safety restraints and was not injured. His car's airbags deployed. A passenger in his car, Matt Bennett, 22, from Scappoose, was using safety restraints and was seriously injured. Matt Bennett was transported by AMR ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital.

Bilanovic and an unidentified male passenger were using safety restraints and transported by ambulance to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Her car's airbags deployed.

On January 26, 2010 at 5:18 p.m. OSP Trooper Scott McLeod arrested Jason Bennett at his Welches residence for:

* Reckless Driving
* Assault in the Third Degree
* Assault in the Fourth Degree (2 counts)

JASON BENNETT was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) in The Dalles pending an appearance in Hood River County Circuit Court.

No crash scene photos available for this release.