A fatal car crash in Coos County on OR 42 claimed the life of one person and left another seriously injured this past Monday, according to Oregon State Police reports. The collision, occurring near milepost 10.4, involved two vehicles – a BMW sedan heading westbound and an eastbound Toyota Corolla. The BMW, driven by 32-year-old Brandon Smith of Coos Bay, spun out of control for reasons still unclear and crossed into opposing traffic, where it struck the Toyota.
The aftermath of the crash saw the BMW engulfed in flames. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, meanwhile, Dana Salmon, the 32-year-old Toyota driver from Myrtle Point sustained serious injuries and was promptly transported to a local area hospital for treatment the chain of events led to a prolonged highway closure, which lasted about four hours as an on-scene investigation unwound with aid from several local departments. OSP was assisted by the Coquille Police Department, Coquille Fire Department, Coquille Ambulance, and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
While the investigation by the Oregon State Police is ongoing, details surrounding the cause of the deadly spin remain limited.
