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.
TUESDAY, APRIL 23
• 4:25 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20 about 11 miles west of Vale that took the life of a 17-year-old boy. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by a 22-year-old Redmond man was headed east on Highway 20 and attempted to pass a commercial vehicle. A Ford Maverick, driven by the 17-year-old, swerved onto the road’s shoulder in an attempt to avoid a collision with the passing vehicle but the Trailblazer also swerved onto the shoulder and they hit head-on. The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Maverick, a 13-year-old girl, was transported via helicopter to an area hospital reportedly with serious injuries. The Trailblazer’s driver suffered minor injuries and was not transported for medical care.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26
• 4:42 p.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20 just outside Newport that took the life of Christopher Michael Robeson, 62, of Siletz. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Subaru Forester driven by a 78-year-old Newport woman was headed west on Highway 20 and crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and struck a Nissan light-duty pickup driven by the Siletz man. Robeson was declared deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Nissan, a 55-year-old Toledo woman, was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital. The Subaru’s driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
• 4:55 p.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 about 4 miles north of Manzanita in northern Tillamook County that took the life of Rhonda Sue Heine, 55, of Cottage Grove. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a Dodge Charger driven by a 56-year-old Cottage Grove woman was headed north on the highway and attempted to pass another vehicle and lost control. The Dodge slid across the northbound lane and into a ditch at highway speeds before striking a tree. The driver was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital. Rhonda Heine was declared deceased at the scene.
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OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING ON I-5
Oregon State troopers responded to the Coburg area at approximately 3 p.m. April 28 to assist the Coburg Police Department and Lane County Sheriff’s Office with a reported shooting. The shooting in Coburg critically injured one of the involved individuals and a search ensued for the other suspect.
At approximately 6 p.m., a vehicle of interest in the Coburg shooting was reported as a driving complaint. The vehicle was located by Linn County deputies, Lane County deputies and Oregon State troopers. A pursuit ensued northbound on Interstate 5 from exit 209 east of Harrisburg. After a successful deployment of spike strips to stop the vehicle, it crashed along the I-5 shoulder. At the crash scene, an officer-involved shooting involving the Linn County deputies and OSP Troopers occurred.
OSP reported that the driver of the vehicle is deceased and a passenger in the suspect vehicle was injured and transported for treatment. No law-enforcement members were injured during the incidents.
The Oregon State Police Major Crimes Team is investigating the Coburg shooting. Based on protocols that are in place, the Albany Police Department is investigating the officer-involved shooting on I- 5 and any involved law-enforcement members have been placed on paid administrative leave by their respective agencies.
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GUIDE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY CONVICTED
A tip to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line alerted Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers to a Columbia County business illegally providing guide services. The tip led to the arrest and conviction of Eric Swanson, 31, operator of Eric Swanson Outdoors, who advertised guided fishing trips on the Columbia River and guided waterfowl hunts on the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area.
The Oregon State Marine Board confirmed that Swanson failed to renew his guide license. The investigation revealed Swanson had been illegally guiding fishing and hunting trips in 2022 and into 2023, receiving a substantial income from the illegally guided trips. In addition, Swanson had forged the outfitter guide sticker attached to his boat with the identification number of another legally registered guide.
On Jan. 13, 2023, Oregon State Police executed a search warrant. During the search warrant, forged stickers were seized from Swanson’s boat.
On April 24, Swanson pled guilty in Columbia County to two counts of fail to register outfitter/guide. In addition to 24 months of probation, Swanson was ordered to pay $30,000 to the Oregon State Marine Board, $15,000 to the Oregon Outfitters and Guides, and $5,000 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, bringing the total restitution amount to $50,000.
The guide licensing process is a public safety measure, according to Cyndi Bolduc, OSMB Outfitter Guide program coordinator for the boating safety program. Licensing establishes that operators meet safety standards, including operating certification, first aid and CPR certification, and insurance coverage. OSMB is tasked with maintaining those standards.
“Unlicensed guides undercut all aspects of guiding, not only fees,” Bolduc said. “Enforcement is a priority with the marine board, and we’ve worked hard to have guiding infractions included in the TIP program and eligible for rewards.”
People who call the TIP Line to report poaching, habitat destruction and other crimes against fish and wildlife are eligible to receive either cash rewards or, in some instances, hunter preference points if their tip leads to an arrest or citation. The reporting party, in this case, received a $200 cash reward. Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association cash rewards apply to anyone acting as an outfitter guide for illegally killing wildlife, illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses, or illegally offering to act as an outfitter guide.
“We need people to do the right thing and contact the TIP Line if they know of illegal activity,” Bolduc said. “In this case, we are pleased to give a TIP reward to the reporting party who suspected Swanson was cheating the system and knowingly ignoring the legal requirements.”
For those who know of or suspect other crimes against fish wildlife or habitat, report to the TIP Line by calling 1-800-452-7888, dialing *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone or emailing TIP@osp.oregon.gov.