Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Oregon State Police. All crashes with fatalities may not be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation.
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
• 9:15 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 a little over a mile west of its intersection with Interstate 82 in Umatilla County that took the life of Christopher Ralph Knowles, 56, of Cherry Valley, Arkansas. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Knowles was driving east in a Ford F-150 when for unknown reasons, left the roadway, crossed the grass median and entered the westbound lanes before striking a bridge support. The collision led to the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames. Knowles was declared deceased at the scene.
SUNDAY, OCT. 20
• 9:34 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 about 2 miles northwest of Ontario that took the life of Traci Nichole Dripps, 55, of Nampa, Idaho. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Dripps was driving a Chevrolet Silverado east in the westbound lanes when it struck a Ford F-350 driven by a 32-year-old Huntington man. OSP had received a report of a wrong-way driver approximately six minutes before the collision occurred and law enforcement was en route at the time of the crash. Dripps was declared deceased at the scene. The Ford’s driver was transported via Life Flight to an area hospital with serious injuries.
TUESDAY, OCT. 22
• 3:15 p.m. — Troopers responded to a four-vehicle crash on Highway 126 about 6 miles east of Walterville in Lane County that took the life of Christine Dorene Weathers, 59, of Florence. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Kenworth logging truck driven by a 50-year-old Myrtle Point man was passing through the Knowles Creek Tunnel when catastrophic engine failure caused an oil spill approximately 200 yards long before the truck exited the tunnel and parked alongside the roadway. A westbound Nissan Rogue driven by a 65-year-old Florence woman lost control in the oil slick and crashed into the logging truck before moving off the highway. A westbound Toyota Prius driven by a 48-year-old Eugene driver also lost control in the oil, crossed into the eastbound lane and struck head-on a Chevrolet HHR driven by Weathers. Weathers was declared deceased at the scene. The Toyota’s driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The drivers of the logging truck and the Nissan were not injured.
OTHER NEWS
• Oct. 19 — Oregon State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Lincoln County that led to the death of Francisco Campos, 36, of Woodburn. The Lincoln City Police Department responded at 12:22 p.m. to a report of a domestic disturbance between a man and woman at a motel. Officers arrived and discovered outstanding warrants for the man’s arrest and the couple also appeared to be associated with a stolen vehicle located in the motel’s parking lot. At about 1:04 p.m., officers confronted Campos, who reportedly had two firearms in his waistband. Police reported that he was shot by officers when he reached for a firearm. He was pronounced deceased later after he was transported to a local hospital. OSP is being assisted on the case by the Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln City Police Department, Lincoln City District Attorney’s Office and Lincoln City Medical Examiner’s Office.
• Oct. 22 — OSP arrested Dago Rodrigo Rodrigues, 22, and Mateo Marin Peraza, 20, both of Oakland, California, on charges of unlawful possession and delivery of fentanyl and heroin during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just south of Sutherlin. Troopers pulled over the vehicle for speeding and during the stop observed signs of criminal activity and deployed a drug detection K-9. During the search, 5.8 pounds of fentanyl and 5 pounds of heroin. Rodrigues and Peraza were transported to Douglas County Jail.