Coquille Man Killed in Crash on Oregon Coast

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(COQUILLE, Ore. ) - A Coquille-area man died Wednesday morning when his car drove across the centerline and collided head-on with another vehicle on Highway 42 east of Coquille.

The other driver received non-life threatening injuries in the crash that closed the highway about two hours.

At about 10:57 AM, a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 79-year-old Louis John Kazda, from Coquille, was westbound on Highway 42 near milepost 27 when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an eastbound 2000 Ford Ranger pickup operated by 57-year-old Elaine M. Amrhein, from Coos Bay.

Mr. Kazda was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Amrhein had to be extricated from her vehicle but received only non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to Bay Area Hospital for treatment.

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Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and airbags deployed in the Ford Ranger pickup. The conditions were sunny and the roadway was dry at the time of the collision.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Coos Bay Area Command office, with the assistance of the Coos County Crash team, are continuing the investigation.
Source: Oregon State Police