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Daughters of UNM staff members die in Oregon car crash
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The children of two University of New Mexico staff members were killed Thursday afternoon in a car crash in northwest Oregon.
Charles LeBlanc, department administrator for UNM’s Department of Neurosciences in the School of Medicine, and his wife, Jenni LeBlanc, faculty research support officer, suffered serious injuries and were taken to a local hospital following the crash, but their two daughters, ages 15 and 12, died from their injuries, according to Oregon State Police.
“We are all shocked and brokenhearted to learn this tragic news. We keep the LeBlanc Family in our hearts and in our prayers as they recover from their physical injuries and mourn this tragic loss of their wonderful daughters,” Patricia Finn, dean of the School of Medicine, and Bill Shuttleworth, chair of the Department of Neurosciences, said in a joint statement.
Police responded to the crash on coastal Highway 101 in Clatsop County, approximately 80 miles northwest of Portland, around 1:20 p.m. Based on the preliminary investigation, a truck crossed into the oncoming lane and struck another SUV before hitting the Nissan Rogue, driven by Charles LeBlanc, head-on, according to a news release from Oregon State Police.
The driver of the truck and the other SUV also sustained serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital, according to police.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Jenni is a highly valued member of the UNM research community and has made significant contributions to advancing the university’s research mission over the past three decades,” Omathanu Perumal, the university’s associate vice president for research, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jenni and her family during this incredibly difficult time.”
