1 Dead, 5 Injured In Highway 26 Crash That Backed up Oregon Coast Range Traffic Saturday

Published 05/25/25 at 7:05 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) – One person is dead and five are seriously injured after a head-on crash in the Oregon Coast Range on Saturday night, which also tied up traffic on Highway 26 for hours.

Oregon State Police have identified the individuals involved. Michelle Marie Moussan, 59, of Vancouver, Washington, was pronounced dead on the scene. She was a passenger in the Nissan Sentra that was struck.

OSP said the crash happened at 6:07 p.m. on Highway 26's milepost 31, in Tillamook County.

Oregon Coast Traffic Conditions

“The preliminary investigation indicated westbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Fred Camino (64) of Seattle (WA), crossed the centerline for unknown reasons and stuck an eastbound Nissan Sentra, operated by Bassam Jabra Moussan (62) of Austin (TX), head-on,” OSP said. “The operator of the Toyota (Camino) and passenger, Ann Martinez (60) of Seattle (WA), suffered serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital.”

Photo courtesy Banks Fire District

OSP said the others with significant injuries were Bassam Jabra Moussan, along with passengers, Matthew James Moussan (34) of Vancouver (WA) and Whitne Daniel Moussan (30) of Davis (CA). All were transported to an area hospital.

Hwy 26 - file photo / Angi D Wildt Gallery

A wide-ranging group of rescue agencies were involved, including Cannon Beach Fire, Banks Fire District #13, Washington County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and Hillsboro Fire, along with ambulances and helicopters. Some crash victims had to be pulled up from an embankment 60 feet down below the highway.

The crash impacted traffic through this part of the Oregon Coast Range for at least five hours, stretching from east of Elsie through near to the Quartz Creek area along Highway 26. Luckily, this time of evening was not at peak traffic times.

“The cause of the crash is under investigation,” OSP said.

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