Hwy. 97 Fatal, Jefferson Co.

Jefferson County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:43 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 97, near milepost 101, in Jefferson County. The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Explorer, operated by James Edwin Legore (63) of Sandy (UT), was on the shoulder of the roadway and began to merge into the northbound lanes when it struck a pedestrian, Jared Elijah Cooper (38) of Madras, while reentering the highway. The pedestrian (Cooper) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Ford (Legore) was reportedly uninjured. The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

Hwy. 26 Fatal, Clatsop Co.

Clatsop County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1:46 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 26, near milepost 1, in Clatsop County. The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Subaru Forester, operated by Smith Ward Humphreys (47) of Warrenton, crossed into the eastbound lanes to pass westbound vehicles and struck an eastbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Daysy Vanesa Camarena (37) of Whittier (CA). The operator of the Subaru (Humphreys) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Toyota (D. Camarena) and passenger, Joshua Zeke Camarena (33) of Whittier (CA), suffered reported serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital. The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Seaside Fire Department and ODOT.

Hwy. 97 Fatal, Klamath Co.

Klamath County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Friday, January 9, 2026, at 6:20 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 228, in Klamath County. The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford F-450, operated by Douglas Alan Fordyce (61) of Caldwell (ID), was stopped westbound on Silver Lake Road at the intersection with Highway 97. The Ford attempted to enter the highway and was struck by a southbound Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Sebastian Mercado Juarez (29) of Fresno (CA), causing a side impact collision. The operator of the Ford (Fordyce) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Freightliner (S. Juarez) and passenger, Christian Mercado Juarez (31) of Fresno (CA), suffered reported minor injuries. The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by Chiloquin Fire and Rescue, Chemult Rural Fire District, and ODOT.