Published 9:57 am Monday, October 26, 2026

An Antelope man died Sunday after police say he turned in front of oncoming traffic on Highway 97 north of Madras.

Thomas Derrig Jagels, 77, died at the scene. According to Oregon State Police, he was traveling southbound on the highway about 3:03 p.m. when he turned left across the path of a northbound van driven by Ronald Lee Jensen, 67, of The Dalles. The van crashed into the Honda, killing Jagels. Jensen was not injured, according to police.

The highway was not impacted during the crash or investigation. Oregon State Police was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Fire and EMS and the Oregon Department of Transportation.