KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — The community is mourning the tragic loss of 48-year-old Mark Evan Simpson of Portland, who was killed in a fatal two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Highway 97 near milepost 220.
According to Oregon State Police, the crash occurred on April 12, 2026, at approximately 3:48 p.m., when troopers responded to a serious collision involving multiple vehicles in the area. Investigators later determined that a sequence of events involving an earlier non-injury crash contributed to the deadly impact that followed.
Preliminary findings indicate that Simpson was driving a black Kia Forte northbound on Highway 97 when he approached the scene of a prior three-vehicle crash that had not resulted in injuries. As he entered the area, authorities say the Kia crossed the center line and traveled into the southbound lane, where a Volvo 760 commercial motor vehicle was attempting to maneuver around a disabled vehicle from the earlier incident.
Officials report that the Volvo, operated by 59-year-old Das Balbir of Richmond, British Columbia, had moved toward the shoulder in an effort to avoid the earlier crash scene when the Kia and the commercial vehicle collided head-on.
The force of the impact caused the Kia to spin back across the northbound lanes before coming to rest against a tree off the highway shoulder. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Simpson was pronounced deceased at the scene due to the severity of the crash.
The driver of the Volvo, Das Balbir, was not injured in the collision.
The crash led to a significant closure of Highway 97 for approximately five hours as investigators worked to document the scene, clear debris, and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the fatal impact.
Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by Chemult Rural Fire Protection District, Chiloquin Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation, all of whom worked together to manage traffic, provide emergency response, and support the investigation.
Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the roadway conditions and the chain reaction of events involving the earlier multi-vehicle incident. No additional details have been released at this time.
Mark Evan Simpson is being remembered by loved ones as a valued member of the Portland community whose life was cut short in a sudden and tragic roadway event. His passing has left family and friends grieving an unexpected loss.
As the investigation continues, officials are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when approaching crash scenes and emergency response zones, where unexpected hazards may be present.
May Mark Evan Simpson rest in peace, and may his memory live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
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