ROSEBURG, Ore. (KMTR) -- More information is being released on one of the teens involved in a fatal crash this weekend in
Douglas County. The driver, 18-year-old Kaylyn Oelrich, died and three other teens were sent to the hospital.
Hector Mandera, 18, is still in critical condition with a serious head injury. The other two passengers, 18-year-old Jose Garcia, and a 14-year-old boy, were both treated and released from Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg. Hector was transported to Sacred Heart at Riverbend in Springfield, where he is still being treated for a skull fracture. Hector's grandfather, Joe Mandera, says his grandson was a star athlete who had just graduated from Roseburg High School in June.
"I just hope that everything's going to be okay and that there's nothing permanent, that it's not going to affect the rest of his life and change his life completely," says former classmate Dillon Howard. Howard knew hector through school and wrestling.
Joe Mandera says Hector has a twin brother, Javier, who's been at his side at the hospital since he was admitted.
Officials say it appears Kaylyn lost control of her car Saturday night, near the 4700 block of Happy Valley Road in the community of Green. She tried to regain control but the vehicle rolled and she was ejected. Kaylyn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office say the crash could have happened for a number of reason. Their initial investigation has found that speed was not a factor. They say it'll be a significant amount of time before they're able to determine the cause.
"I've known [Kaylyn] since my freshman year and she was really nice and she never said anything mean about anyone. She was just a really cool person," says Ashley Harris, a junior at Roseburg High School. "I just really hope that people take something from this and realize that life can be gone so quick."
Dylan Woodward is a senior at Roseburg High School and was a co-worker of Kaylyn at Sherm's Thunderbird, a local grocery store. "It was kinda shocking to know that she died the night after I was just joking with her at work and everything. And so, it's just put me in a depressed mood," says Woodward.
Kaylyn was the daughter of Sergeant Bryan Oelirch of the Roseburg Police Department. The department says no statements about the accident are being released at this time.
As students and the community mourn the loss of Kaylyn, others are sending their best wishes to Hector in the hospital. His grandfather wanted to thank the community for "their unbelievable support" during this tough time.
Joe Mandera says his grandson has woken up in the hospital a couple times, but that he's very confused and has no memory of the accident or what's happened to him. Meantime, plans for a memorial service for Kaylyn have yet to be determined.
