SEAL ROCK – A 23-year-old Waldport was killed Wednesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 101 north of Seal Rock when his car went out of control near Ona Beach State Park and collided with an oncoming pickup.
Oregon State Police said Jonathan J. Channels of Waldport died about 3:55 p.m. Wednesday when his southbound Ford Taurus crossed into the northbound lane just south of Beaver Creek. Channels’ car collided with a Ram 2500 pickup driven by Michael Nelsen, 54, of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Channels died at the scene, police said. Nelsen and a passenger were taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport with minor injuries.
The highway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation and re-routed on South Beaver Creek Road.
I saw it and his car wasn’t out of control he passed us from behind and was traveling high speeds weaving in and out of traffic prior to the wreck. Crossing center line repeatedly before the crash hitting his breaks then speeding up again. I live in Seal Rock. I knew he was gonna hit someone soon enough. I saw the impact we were on our way home. It was awful.