On Thursday a head-on crash on U.S. Highway 20 just east of Newport left one driver dead and two others injured, according to state police. The driver of a Chrysler Town & Country minivan was taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, where she later died of her injuries. The driver of the second vehicle and a passenger were treated for minor injuries. The highway was shut down for roughly three hours while investigators worked the scene.
How the crash unfolded
The collision happened just after 1 p.m. near milepost 1 east of Newport when the westbound minivan crossed the center line into the oncoming lane and hit an eastbound Toyota Highlander. Investigators say the Toyota’s driver tried to swerve but could not avoid the impact. Troopers and local emergency crews rushed to the scene, blocking the roadway while detectives documented the crash. Preliminary details come from Oregon State Police reports shared with local media, including KPTV.
Victims identified
Local coverage identified the minivan driver as 77-year-old Rosalea Ann Engelbrecht of Waldport. The Toyota’s driver was named as 82-year-old John Sterling Daigle of Newport and his passenger as 77-year-old Vicki Ray Bock. Both Daigle and Bock were treated for minor injuries, as reported by KOIN. Authorities say Engelbrecht later died at the hospital.
A stretch of road with a history
U.S. Highway 20 has been the scene of multiple serious wrecks over the years, and the state has rolled out various safety measures on different portions of the route. The Oregon Department of Transportation removed a long-running “safety corridor” designation east of Toledo in 2022 after crash rates changed, highlighting how complex it is to keep the coastal highway safe, as reported by OPB. Local agencies including the Newport Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office assisted Oregon State Police at the scene, according to KPTV.
Investigation ongoing
Oregon State Police investigators are still working to determine why the minivan entered the opposite lane and have not released any information about possible contributing factors, per reporting by KOIN. This story will be updated as state and local officials release additional details.
