Fatal Crash Discovered off Highway 101 North of Port Orford

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Sergeant Punch at (541) 698-7212.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(PORT ORFORD, Ore.) - Police say a Bandon-area man was found deceased in his sport utility vehicle Thursday morning after it was involved in an overnight single vehicle traffic crash along Highway 101 about seven miles north of Port Orford.

Lieutenant Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police says that at approximately 9:30 AM, a bicyclist reported discovering a previously unreported crash involving a vehicle over an embankment on the west side of Highway 101 near milepost 291.

Preliminary investigation indicates that sometime during the night, a 1999 Toyota 4Runner driven by 24-year old Jake Alto Cary of Bandon, was northbound on a straight section of Highway 101 after negotiating a right curve when it lost control.

Hastings says the vehicle slid sideways off the west highway shoulder and traveled down an embankment where it struck a large tree. The vehicle came to rest about 30 feet down the embankment in a heavily vegetated area not clearly visible from the highway.

Mr. Cary was deceased in the vehicle. He was using safety restraints and his vehicle's airbags deployed.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Scott Punch is investigating the fatal crash. Anyone with information regarding this investigation, including where the victim was at prior to the crash, is asked to contact Sergeant Punch at (541) 698-7212.

Assistance at the scene provided by Curry County Sheriff's Office, Port Orford Fire Department, Sixes River Fire Department, Cal-Or Ambulance, and ODOT.