Salem-News.com Oregon Coast articles Page 3

Police Identify Victim in Ore. Highway 38 Crash into Umpqua River

Last year in Oregon, four people died in 4 separate traffic crashes during the 102-hour Fourth of July holiday period.

(REEDSPORT, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation into the cause of Wednesday afternoon's fatal crash after a sport utility vehicle went into the Umpqua River as it traveled along Highway 38 about six miles east of Reedsport in Douglas County.

According to Lieutenant Steve Mitchell, on July 2 at approximately 3:49 p.m., a 1991 Ford Explorer driven by 54-year-old Kenneth Ray Richards, from Coos Bay, was traveling westbound on Highway 38 near milepost 6. For an unknown reason, it traveled off the highway into the Umpqua River where it became submerged.

Salem Man Killed in Ore. Highway 18 Crash

OSP troopers from the Newport Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

(OTIS, Ore. ) - A Salem man has been identified as the person killed in a June 23 crash on Highway 18.

The Polk County Medical Examiner confirmed positive identification of 22-year-old Jason E. Machado, who was killed when the 1997 Ford Escort he was driving crossed the centerline and collided with a Mercedes SUV.

Kayaker Pulled Out of Pacific Ocean Near Cascade Head

Both kayakers were wearing survival gear, including dry suits, life jackets and survival vests.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - A Coast Guard Aircrew from Air Facility Newport rescued a male kayaker in the Pacific Ocean near Cascade Head, Oregon, Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard aircrew was conducting a harbor patrol at 11:45 a.m., when they saw two kayakers, one capsized and in the water, struggling to regain control of his paddlecraft.

BE AWARE! Highway 101 at Depoe Bay to Experience Traffic Delays

Mid-morning hours typically experience lower traffic volumes on the highway, but motorists traveling at that time should plan on a 20 minute delay.

(DEPOE BAY, Ore. ) - On Wednesday, all traffic on US 101 between Depoe Bay and Otter Rock will experience a 20 minute delay as ODOT crews remove a tree that poses a hazard by leaning over the highway.

One Dead, Two Injured in Oregon Hwy. 18 Crash

For an unconfirmed reason, the Ford Escort crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound Mercedes sport utility vehicle occupied by two people.

(OTIS, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police are continuing the investigation into Monday night's two vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred on Highway 18 about seventeen miles east of Otis in Polk County.

According to Lieutenant Justin McGladrey, at approximately 11:16 p.m., a 1997 Ford Escort was traveling eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 18.

Starfish Along Oregon Coast Headed for Extinction

Today, an estimated 30-50 percent of the Oregon populations of this sea star species in the intertidal zone have the disease.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - Just in the past two weeks, the incidence of sea star wasting syndrome has exploded along the Oregon Coast and created an epidemic of historic magnitude, one that threatens to decimate the entire population of purple ochre sea stars.

The ochre sea star, which is the species most heavily affected by the disease in the intertidal zone, may be headed toward localized extinction in Oregon, according to researchers at Oregon State University who have been monitoring the outbreak. As a “keystone” predator, its loss could disrupt the entire marine intertidal ecosystem.

Semi Carrying Seafood Waste Crashes in Oregon Coast Range

Highway 26 is now open in both directions.

(BANKS, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police are continuing to investigate a early Sunday morning crash in the Oregon Coast Range.

Police say at around 6:30 a.m., a commercial truck carrying 40,000 pounds of compressed seafood waste was traveling eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 35 when it went off the right shoulder and crashed into bordering trees.

BE AWARE! of Oregon Coast Road Construction Projects

The painting of the second bridge is expected to take two months to complete.

(PACIFIC CITY, Ore. ) - The bridge painting contractor is completing work on the first of three bridges on Ore. Hwy. 130 -- Little Nestucca River Highway -- between Ore. Hwy. 22 and U.S. 101.

On Friday, June 27, the first bridge at milepost 5.11 will re-open and the contractor will begin work on the second bridge at milepost 5.97.

An Oregon Department of Transportation project is currently underway that will add centerline rumble strips to sections of U.S. 26 and U.S. 30.

Oregon Surfing Contest and Beach Clean-Up This Saturday

The event celebrates International Surfing Day.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - Time to go surfing, Oregon style.

On Saturday, Newport's chapter of the Surfrider Foundation together with the chapters in Portland and Siuslaw (Florence) will be holding the 6th Annual Otter Rock 'n' Roll Surf Contest and Beach Cleanup Challenge.

California Woman Falls to Her Death on Oregon Coast

The woman fell down a steep embankment off the trail, and suffered severe head injuries.

(COOS BAY, Ore. ) - Investigators in Coos County, Oregon are investigating the death of a Burbank, California woman who fell to her death on Tuesday.

The Coos County Sheriff's office says the woman fell while walking along a trail east of the city of Coos Bay along the West Fork of the Millicoma River.