KLAMATH COUNTY, OR - On Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2:54 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 140, near milepost 1, in Klamath County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Dodge Durango, operated by Forrest Clinton George Fairchild (40) of Klamath Falls, struck a disabled Honda CRV that was partially blocking the eastbound lane. The Honda was occupied by Kaylee Rae Volpe (18) of Klamath Falls and a male juvenile (17) was in front of the vehicle attempting to diagnose the failure. The male juvenile was thrown over a bridge barrier and into the Klamath River.
The operator of the Dodge (Fairchild) suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
The operator of the Jeep (Volpe) was reportedly uninjured.
The passenger of the Jeep (male juvenile) was declared deceased after being recovered from the Klamath River.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Klamath County Fire District #1, Klamath County Fire District #4, Klamath County Dive Rescue, and ODOT.
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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon's highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
