O'Sullivan was 2008 Central Valley Girls Champion for Titans

Ashley O'Sullivan, 18, who was the 2008 Central Valley Conference girls golf district titlist as a senior, died Saturday morning, when the car she was driving went off North Fork Road east of Stayton, and crashed into the Little North Fork of the Santiam river.

Michael Perkins, 20, of Dallas, who was riding with O'Sullivan, sustained only minor injuries, and was able to walk to the Elkhorn Valley campground to summon help.

(Updated with Memorial Service info.)

Firefighters from the Stayton Fire District, Santiam and Lyons ambulance personnel, Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies, and the Jefferson Fire District Water Rescue team responded to the scene at approximately 5:20 AM Saturday.

Responders found O'Sullivan's 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt in the river, about 80 feet down an embankment, at approximately the 30500 block of Little North Fork road. O'Sullivan had been ejected from the vehicle, and perished at the scene.

O'Sullivan and Perkins had been traveling southwest before losing control. The road, providing access to the popular Elkhorn Valley recreation area, features a number of narrow sections and sharp curves.

O'Sullivan, who played for West Salem, finished in a tie for seventh in the 2007 state meet during in her junior year, and 10th. in 2008, her senior year. She was chosen as the Statesman Journal All-Region girls golfer of the year in both 2007 and 2008.

Memorial Service Wednesday

A public memorial service for O'Sullivan will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, at Creekside Golf Club in South Salem.

Creekside Golf Club is located at 6250 Club House Dr SE, Salem, OR 97306. Access is via Creekside Drive, west from Sunnyview Road. Contact Creekside by phone at (503) 363-4653.

O'Sullivan worked at Creekside, and was preparing to go to college and continue her competitive golf career.