Hillsboro woman, 19, killed in crash on Highway 6; teen driver arrested for DUII

On July 24, 2019, a fatal car crash on Highway 6 near Banks, Oregon, resulted in the death of 19-year-old Elizabeth Shell, a passenger in a Ford Fiesta driven by Talita Weltzien. The Fiesta collided with a semi-truck that was stopped in a construction zone, after which it was hit by an oncoming SUV. Talita Weltzien, who was driving under the influence of an unspecified substance, survived the crash with minor injuries. Following her release from the hospital, she was booked into the Washington County Jail on multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter and DUII. Authorities confirmed that all other individuals involved in the incident sustained minor or no injuries at all.

This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with impaired driving, particularly in sensitive areas such as construction zones. The Oregon State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The community is left mourning the loss of a young life and grappling with the implications of reckless driving.