PORTLAND, Ore. (PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP) — A Lake Oswego woman and her 12-year-old daughter were killed on Christmas Day when their Nissan Versa lost traction and crossed into the path of an oncoming Subaru Outback on Highway 26 in Wasco County.
Deirdre Lynne Mackey, 48, and her daughter, Lake Oswego Junior High sixth-grader Grace Misztal, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Subaru was identified as Portland resident Darrow Geordan Rupp, 41; he and his passenger, 39-year-old Maria Suzanne Veltman, were transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
Lake Oswego Junior High released a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened to report that 6th grader Grace Misztal and her mother, Dierdre Lynn Mackey, were killed in a car accident on Christmas Day on Route 26 in Wasco County.”
Lake Oswego Junior High Principal Sara Deboy said Tuesday that crisis response teams will be available at Oak Creek Elementary and LOJ beginning at 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 2, when students return from winter break.
“Teams of counselors will be available to speak with students and teachers who feel the need for support or who may need a quiet space,” Deboy said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the Mackey family and to all our families who will be grieving this terrible loss.”
The two-vehicle crash, which was reported to the Oregon State Police at around 3:25 p.m. Monday, closed Highway 26 just east of the intersection with Highway 35 for more than 10 hours while the OSP, ODOT and the Hoodland Fire Department responded.
Driving too fast for the conditions is being considered as a factor in the crash, although OSP Lt. Bill Fugate said an investigation is ongoing.Pamplin Media Group is a KOIN 6 media partner
