Fatal Wreck and Hoax Mariner Message Investigated on S. Oregon Coast

Published 10/07/2026 at 12:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) – Two different incidents on the south Oregon coast are being investigated by different authorities, after a hoax emergency message from offshore and a fatal car crash took place in Coos County on Sunday.

Oregon State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred Sunday evening (October 4) on Highway 540 near milepost 5 in Coos County.

Troopers were dispatched at about 7:35 p.m. after reports of a wrong-way driver. According to the preliminary investigation, a silver Chevrolet Aveo driven by George Cole Cleveland, 41, of Coos Bay, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane when it struck a white Toyota Tacoma operated by Aric Dwayne Allen Adkins, 35, also of Coos Bay.

“The operator of the Chevrolet (Cleveland) was pronounced deceased at the scene,” OSP said. “The operator of the Toyota (Adkins) had reported minor injuries. During the investigation, Adkins was arrested on a DUII charge.”

OSP was assisted by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Coos Bay Police Department, Charleston Fire and Rescue, and Bay Cities Ambulance.

Also on October 4, Coos County Sheriff's Office said it dealt with an emergency mariner message that was apparently a hoax – and an illegal one.

About 2:30 a.m., the CCSO said, the primary radio frequency reserved for only emergency agencies in this part of the south Oregon coast was used to transmit a message.

“The message detailed an ocean surface breach outside of the bar in Charleston,” CCSO said. “The Coos County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was immediately activated to determine validity and source of the message. The EOC was activated to ensure that there was not any current or ongoing threat to Coos County.”

Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

Employees quickly determined the message did not come from a legitimate source.

“The incident is being investigated, as transmitting a false or fraudulent signal is a federal crime under False Distress Signals (47 U.S.C. § 325), as well as Broadcast Hoaxes (47 CFR § 73.1217). The matter remains under investigation.”

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The agency asked that anyone having any information regarding the creation or transmission of the message shoud call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office at 541-396-7800.

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