UPDATE: 3 people in 'serious to critical' condition following Tuesday collision on Highway 30

Highway 30 was temporarily closed Tuesday afternoon, July 30, following a two-vehicle head-on crash that sent three people to the hospital.

Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Clatskanie Fire, Oregon State Police, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation responded to the accident near Heath Road and Larson Road, at milepost 50.5. According to Oregon State Police, the initial investigation indicated that a westbound SUV crossed over into the eastbound lane where it struck another vehicle.

Drivers of the vehicles were identified Wednesday morning, July 31, as 32-year-old Jacob William Kelly of Astoria and 26-year-old Cole Jacob Warren of Clatskanie. The passenger is identified as 26-year-old Ashleigh Annamay Baumgarden of Astoria.

CRF&R reported that two helicopters were sent to the collision site and flew two people to a trauma center after the 1:45 p.m. crash. A third person was transported by ground to a trauma center. There were no other occupants of the vehicles.

CRF&R Fire Chief Eric Smythe said Wednesday that the extrication process was lengthy for two of the three people transported to a hospital.

"There were three patients, all of them serious to critical," he said. "One of them was extricated from the accident quickly and transported by helicopter. The other two, it took approximately an hour to an hour and 15 minutes before both victims were extricated."

The full extent of the injuries was not immediately available, as of Wednesday morning.

David House of the Oregon Department of Transportation said Wednesday that the lanes were cleared at 4:30 p.m., about three hours after the initial closure.

Smythe said a deputy was nearby when the crash occurred, resulting in quick response.

"What I am aware of is that there was a Columbia County Sheriff that had pulled a truck over further down the road," he said Wednesday. "He was inspecting the truck when the crash happened, so he was on scene very quickly. He is also a paramedic so he immediately called for two helicopters."

Tuesday's crash follows a fatal accident Friday morning , July 26, a mere half-mile away, at milepost 51, on Highway 30. Two Scappoose residents, driver Bridget Ann Connell and passenger Nyx Ariel Connell, died in that crash.