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Cheerleader killed in icy crash near Bend

02:34 PM PST on Friday, January 2, 2009

By TERESA BLACKMAN, kgw.com Staff

BEND, Ore. -- A 16-year-old Redmond-area girl was killed in a crash Friday morning on Highway 97 about eight miles north of Bend, police said.

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Oregon State Police released this photo of the crash scene.

Investigators believe the girl lost control of her pickup truck on ice just after 7:30 a.m.

According to Oregon State Police Sergeant Chris Seber, Shalae Mortenson was traveling northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 127 when she lost control, spun counter-clockwise across the center median and hit a southbound truck driven by Jose Mendoza, 33 of Terrebonne. After the initial collision, Seber said a southbound pickup driven by Randall Burcham, 46, also of Terrebonne, crashed into the back of Mendoza's truck.

Mortenson was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was using safety restraints.

Mendoza was seriously injured and transported by air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. He was using safety restraints and his pickup's airbags deployed.

Burcham was not injured. He was using safety restraints and his pickup's airbags deployed.

OSP troopers from the Bend Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Police Department, Redmond Ambulance, and ODOT assisted at the scene.

All lanes were closed for about two hours before one lane was open in both directions using the northbound lanes.

 More: KTVZ coverage of cheerleader's death

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