Two dead in separate Oregon coast crashes, one involved 17 people

Published 09/14/2026 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – Two deadly crashes in the Oregon coast area mar the otherwise pleasant final weekend of summer. One involved 17 people in four vehicles, while another involved two cars.

Oregon State Police (OSP) said the two occurred the same day: one near Cannon Beach and the other along Highway 30 in the Oregon Coast Range, outside of Astoria.

On Saturday night, September 12, 2026, at about 8:56 p.m., OSP said they responded to a four-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 30 near milepost 85 in Clatsop County.

Both crashes are still being investigated, but OSP had some early findings.

“The preliminary investigation indicated a black Ford Ranger pickup, operated by Markham Marshall Stangland (65) of Warrenton, was traveling westbound on Highway 30 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed into the eastbound lane of travel and sideswiped a black Ram 1500 pickup, operated by Jaden Vinay Govindan (25) of Aloha,” OSP said. “The Ford Ranger continued westbound in the eastbound lane and struck an eastbound Ford Transit van, operated by Haiden Cunningham (21) of Milwaukie. An eastbound green Ford F-100 pickup, operated by Gregory Louis Wavra (29) of Longview, Washington, was unable to stop and struck the Ford Ranger and Ford Transit van. “

Cannon Beach area / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

The Transit van was carrying 11 Oregon National Guard members returning to the Clackamas area after a training event at Camp Rilea near Warrenton.

The operator of the Ford Ranger (Stangland) was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators noted he is not believed to have been wearing a seatbelt.

Govindan, the operator of the Ram 1500, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. Cunningham, the operator of the Transit van, suffered serious injuries and was transported as well. Wavra, the operator of the Ford F-100, sustained minor injuries and was also hospitalized.

Highway 30 was closed for roughly four hours during the on-scene investigation.

With 17 occupants across the four vehicles, the incident triggered a mass-casualty response from nearby fire departments, police agencies, and hospitals.

OSP was assisted by the Clatskanie Fire Department, Knappa Fire Department, Astoria Fire Department, Medix Ambulance Service, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Astoria Police Department, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Washington State Patrol. OSP stated it “would like to sincerely thank each of these agencies for their prompt response and assistance during this large-scale emergency.”

Earlier that same day, at about 9:09 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 101 near milepost 26 in Clatsop County.

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“The preliminary investigation indicated a light blue Ford Explorer, operated by Ronald Gregory Smith (76) of Tillamook, was traveling northbound on Highway 101 when it used the right shoulder to pass a northbound black Toyota Highlander, operated by Ronald Francis Smith (84) of Seaside,” OSP said.

The Explorer sideswiped the Highlander before reentering the lane, then crossed the southbound lane and went onto the shoulder, where it struck an embankment and several trees.

The operator of the Ford (Ronald Gregory Smith) was pronounced dead at the scene.

The operator of the Highlander (Ronald Francis Smith) was not injured.

A passenger in the Ford, Marie Schmitt (56) of Tillamook, sustained serious injuries and was flown to a Portland-area hospital.

Investigators said witness statements indicate the operator of the Ford may have suffered a medical emergency immediately before the crash.

The highway was closed for about five hours during the investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Cannon Beach Fire Department, Medix Ambulance Services, Cannon Beach Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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