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.
Speeding and passing unlawfully happens a lot on Highway 101 from Waldport to Newport. Wish we had more police presence.
It happened right in front of us too. We stopped to help but emergency responders were there in a few minutes nothing could be done to save the man. Just an awful wreck that should never happened. 100% avoidable. A very sad day
We live in an area where the roads and highways are particularly dangerous. Someone like that driving carelessly can easily cause a tragedy.
We were heading to Waldport and came up on this just as the emergency crews were there. Of course we turned around and headed back home to Newport but it is a scene I will never forget. I am 65 years old, have done a lot of traveling and either witnessed or came up on many wrecks. This is the worst I have ever seen. The truck was on its side and had some damage, yes, but the car? Nothing left. I have never seen a more mangled mess in my life. It is a vision I will unfortunately remember for a long long time.