A Nyssa-area attorney died Wednesday morning while driving to Burns for a hearing in Harney County Circuit Court when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a pickup pulling an empty livestock trailer on Highway 20 east of Burns.

About 7:15 a.m., Oregon State Police troopers and area emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle head-on fatal crash on Highway 20.  According to an OSP spokesman, a preliminary investigation indicates a westbound 2002 Ford Taurus driven by Charles Simmons, 32, from Ontario, crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound 2002 Dodge 3500 pickup towing a livestock trailer. 

The Ford came to rest on the westbound shoulder.  The pickup and trailer came to rest blocking both lanes of travel.

Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Dodge's driver, Sterling Wilson, 51, and passenger/wife Pamela Wilson, also 51, both from Burns, were transported by ambulance to Harney District Hospital with minor injuries.

All three individuals were wearing seat belts and troopers say the airbags deployed in both vehicles.

Simmons worked as an attorney for the firm of Stunz, Fonda, Kiyuna & Horton LLP.  

The highway was closed for about two hours while OSP troopers from Burns conducted their on-scene investigation.  OSP was helped out on scene by the Harney County Sheriff's Office, Harney EMS, Burns and Hines Fire Departments, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.