A tragic multiple-car collision on Highway 101 in Coos County claimed two lives on the Fourth of July, according to the Oregon State Police. The crash, involving a Kia Optima, a Toyota Corolla, a Dodge Ram, and a Subaru Outback, occurred near Lakeside at around 1:06 p.m., as reported by official updates.
Initial investigations reveal that the Kia, driven by Manual Samuel Starr, 38, of Coos Bay, veered across the median for reasons yet to be determined, sideswiped the Corolla, and then struck the Dodge Ram head-on, which in a cascade of calamity, led to the Subaru subsequently colliding with the Kia, causing a chaotic scene that halted Highway 101 traffic for hours. Starr and Shatara Rosemarie Holmes, 39, also of Coos Bay and seated in the Kia's rear, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their seven-month-old infant was miraculously unharmed but was still taken to a local hospital as a precaution.
The Dodge Ram's driver, Jose Maria Rodriguez Garcia, 55, was hospitalized with serious injuries while his passenger, Nicole Virginia Rodriguez, 44, required air transport for medical attention also due to serious injuries. A 20-year-old Jose Rodriguez Chase Jr., a three-year-old boy, and a 14-year-old girl all suffered minor injuries in the crash. Lori Priest, 61, driving the Subaru endured minor injuries, while her passengers, Nanette Myra Priest, 55, and a 10-year-old, were reported uninjured. The Toyota driver, Kent McQuillen, 61, escaped the incident without harm.
The accident prompted an extensive four-hour closure for investigation and response, involving Oregon State Police alongside the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, several fire departments, and medical teams, as well as the Oregon Department of Transportation managing the traffic flow. The collective efforts of these agencies were pivotal in addressing the immediate crisis and starting the longer journey toward understanding the moments that led to such a grave outcome.
