Myrtle Creek girl, 16, killed in car crash

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. - A 16-year-old girl died Wednesday in a car crash on Interstate 5 south of Myrtle Creek.

Megan Phariss of Myrtle Creek was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a student at Riddle Charter School.

The driver of the car, 17-year-old Paige Williams of Myrtle Creek, was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center. She is expected to survive her injuries. Williams is a student at South Umpqua High School.

Oregon State Police said the teens were southbound on I-5 just before 8 a.m. when the 1996 Honda Accord that Williams was driving left the roadway and overturned for unknown reasons. Crash reconstructionists are on the scene investigating.

The car came to rest on its top in a field next to the freeway.

Both teens were wearing seatbelts, and road conditions were dry at the time of the crash.