A Coos County man was killed early Wednesday after a three-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 101 near milepost 223, when a pickup hit black ice and slid into oncoming traffic, according to law enforcement. Investigators say the northbound truck, hauling a flatbed trailer, crossed the centerline and crashed into a southbound Chevrolet Tracker driven by 64-year-old Lakeside resident James Ervin Bramhall, who died at the scene. A third driver reported minor injuries.
What troopers say
According to Oregon State Police, troopers were called out around 6:09 a.m. after a northbound Ford F-150 towing a flatbed trailer, driven by 30-year-old Matthew Rafael Gonzalez of St. George, Utah, hit a patch of black ice, struck the guardrail and veered into the southbound lane. The Ford collided with a tan Chevy Tracker driven by Bramhall, and a blue Dodge 1500, driven by 24-year-old John Paul Burgmeier of Coos Bay, then rear-ended the flatbed trailer. OSP said Gonzalez reported minor injuries, while Burgmeier was not hurt. Highway 101 was blocked for about three and a half hours while troopers and crash investigators worked the scene.
Local response and road impacts
Area fire and medical crews, including personnel from the Lakeside, Houser and Winchester Bay fire departments along with Lower Umpqua Ambulance, responded to the crash, and Oregon Department of Transportation staff helped manage traffic, as reported by KATU. The station noted the first reports came in just after 6 a.m., and U.S. 101 stayed restricted for more than three hours while the on-scene investigation played out.
Black ice risk on the coast
A Freeze Warning along the south central Oregon coast earlier in the week brought overnight lows near or below freezing, conditions that are prime for the nearly invisible slick known as black ice, the National Weather Service in Medford warned. For up to the minute road information, ODOT’s TripCheck site lists cameras, closures and travel alerts for Highway 101 and other coastal routes. Wet pavement followed by subfreezing temperatures can leave a thin, transparent glaze that looks harmless until a vehicle loses grip.
Safety takeaways
Drivers are urged to slow down, increase following distance and assume bridges, overpasses and shaded curves may be icy during cold snaps. If your vehicle hits ice, ease off the gas and avoid sudden braking or sharp steering to reduce the chance of spinning out. When possible, consider delaying nonessential trips on rural stretches of Highway 101 until road crews have had time to treat the surface and temperatures climb back above freezing.
The Crash Reconstruction Unit documented the wreck, and the investigation is still in its early stages, Oregon State Police said. Troopers have not released further details while the inquiry continues.
