Hwy. 47 Fatal, Columbia Co.

Columbia County, Ore (Dec. 17, 2025)- On Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:42 P.M., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 47, near milepost 58, in Columbia County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Dodge Ram, operated by Todd Alan McCarthy (60) of Vernonia, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck a utility pole and trees before coming to a rest off the roadway. The operator of the Dodge (McCarthy) was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Vernonia Police Depertment, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Vernonia Fire Department, and ODOT.

Hwy. 199 Fatal, Josephine Co.

Josephine County, Ore. (Dec. 17, 2025)- On Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:53 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 199, near milepost 9, in Josephine County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford Econoline, operated by Dakota Mcleod Palmer (27) of Ashland, lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. The operator of the vehicle (Palmer) was transported to an area hospital with reported minor injuries. A passenger of the vehicle, Kyle Dewayne King (50) of Elgin (TX), was declared deceased after being transported to an area hospital. The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation. OSP was assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department, and ODOT.

Hwy. 97 Fatal, Deschutes Co.

Deschutes County, Ore. (Dec. 17, 2025)- On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:34 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a four-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 127, in Deschutes County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Chrysler Pacifica, operated by William Longhway Sargent (79) of Bend, crossed into the northbound lanes for unknown reasons and sideswiped a northbound Landrover Range Rover, operated by John Bowman Browning III (18) of Redmond, and a Chevrolet Tahoe, operated by Joseph Anthony Russo (25) of Terrebonne, before striking a northbound Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Johnny Edward Jantzen Jr. (61) of Red Bluff (CA), head-on. The operator of the Chrysler (Sargent) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Landrover (Browning III), Chevrolet (Russo), and Freightliner (Jantzen Jr.) were reportedly uninjured. The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

Hwy. 97 Fatal, Klamath Co.

Klamath County, Ore. (Dec. 17, 2025)- On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:40 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 255, in Klamath County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Chevrolet Silverado 2500, operated by Gordon Travis Gilmer (37) of Sacramento (CA), lost control, entered the northbound lane, and struck a Toyota Hilux, operated by Triston Charles Morrow (26) of Chiloquin, head-on. The operator of the Toyota (Morrow) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Chevrolet (Gilmer) and passenger, Christian Octavio Rodriguez (28) of Rosamond (CA), suffered reported minor injuries. A second passenger of the Chevrolet, James Devon Cozart Jr. (19) of Rancho Cordova (CA) was reportedly uninjured. The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation. OSP was assisted by Chiloquin Fire and ODOT.