Three Highway Deaths in Southern Oregon This Week, Two on the Coast

Published 08/11/2026 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Port Orford, Oregon) – Three people died in vehicle accidents in two different areas of Oregon this week, bringing a darker opening to August. Both incidents happened in the southern part of the state, but with two deceased near the beaches.

On the southern Oregon coast, a two-vehicle collision on Highway 101 in Curry County left both drivers dead last Wednesday afternoon, according to Oregon State Police (OSP).

On August 5, troopers were called at about 5:14 p.m. to milepost 286 near Langlois.

“The preliminary investigation indicated a white Buick Lucerne, operated by Joni Marie Williams (63) of Bandon, was traveling southbound on Highway 101 near Langlois when it crossed the centerline for an unknown reason,” OSP said. “The Buick collided head-on with a northbound silver Pontiac Vibe, operated by Hunter Lee Sturgill (18) of Coos Bay.

The Buick’s driver, 63-year-old Joni Marie Williams of Bandon, died at the scene. The Pontiac’s driver, 18-year-old Hunter Lee Sturgill of Coos Bay, was also pronounced dead at the scene.

OSP said Highway 101 was closed for roughly three hours during the investigation. Those assisting OSP included the Bandon Police Department, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, the Sixes Rural Fire Protection District, the Langlois Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

A single-vehicle crash late Saturday night in southern Oregon left one man dead and another seriously injured, according to OSP.

Troopers were called at about 10:39 p.m. on August 8, to Highway 140 near milepost 56 in Lake County. Investigators said a gray Dodge Challenger traveling eastbound left the roadway for unknown reasons and rolled several times down an embankment. The area is a remote stretch between Lakeview and Klamath Falls.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Juan Luis Perez Garcia of Tule Lake, California, died at the scene.

A passenger, 20-year-old Cristo Jesus Herrera, also of Tule Lake, was flown by air ambulance to a hospital with serious injuries.

The highway remained open during the response. Agencies assisting OSP included the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Search and Rescue, Lake County EMS, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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