RICHLAND, Wash. – Two Korean tourists who were visiting family in Bothell, Washington are the latest victims to be identified in that deadly bus crash in northeast Oregon. Police say Sunday’s accident east of Pendleton was Oregon’s deadliest crash since 1971. Among the dead were 67-year-old Jung Oun Hong and his 63-year-old wife, Kim Joong Wha of Korea.
Lieutenant Gregg Hastings with the Oregon State Police says there are some real challenges in identifying the victims quickly for waiting families.
“Most of the people who were transported, after they were declared to be deceased, had no legal identification on them," he says. "Some of it was found in the wreckage, so we had to hook that up with that individual. Also, because of some traumatic injuries they’ve received we’ve had to use some medical records.”
The other identified victim in the crash is Dale William Osborn of Spanaway, Washington. He was 57.
Crews have removed the bus from the crash site. It’s being held in an undisclosed location where Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate the tragedy.
