A fatal collision occurred on Hwy-30 in Clatsop County on Thursday evening, according to Oregon State Police. At approximately 6:04 p.m., a Mazda 3 driven by August Aleksander Crawford, 26, of Clatskanie, was involved in a three-vehicle crash near milepost 77. Oregon State Police reported that Crawford attempted to pass a semi-trailer in a no-passing zone, resulting in a series of collisions.
The incident, which unfolded as Crawford tried to overtake an eastbound Freightliner CMV, led the Mazda to dangerously enter the westbound lane directly into the path of an oncoming Mack fuel tanker. Crawford quickly tried to reenter the eastbound lane, only to sideswipe the Freightliner and subsequently lose control, bringing about a head-on collision with the tanker truck. Despite being transported to an area hospital, Crawford did not survive the injuries sustained in the crash. The drivers of the Freightliner and the Mack tanker, identified as Steven Rabon Skripsey II, 42, and Taranjot Panglia, 32, respectively, both declined medical attention.
Due to a thorough investigation by authorities, the highway was closed for about eight hours, causing significant traffic disruption. The Oregon State Police were assisted by local fire departments and the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office in managing the aftermath of the crash. OSP cited unsafe passing as the primary cause of the accident.
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU), a team equipped to handle such fatal and critical incidents, was engaged to analyze the circumstances of the collision. The unit comprises ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators who deploy advanced technologies, including unmanned aircraft systems, for investigative purposes. This specialized unit is regularly tasked to respond and to thoroughly piece together the complex threads of motor vehicle crashes across Oregon's highways.
