On March 7, 2017, at about 5:30 p.m., OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 101, near milepost 206 (just north of Gardiner). Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found an adult male deceased. Preliminary investigation revealed a 1997 Honda Accord attempted to cross Highway 101 northbound lanes from the northbound shoulder, near milepost 206. The Honda was struck by a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan that had been traveling northbound on Highway 101. The driver of the Honda, John Lawrence WEASER, age 75, of Reedsport, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Passenger, Kimberly Sue WEASER, age 56, and passenger, Viola BRANNON, age 83, both from Reedsport, received non-life threatening injuries. Kimberly WEASER was taken to the Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence and BRANNON was taken to the Lower Umpqua Hospital in Reedsport. The driver of the Volkswagen, Elaine Muir SHEARD, age 56, and passenger, Paul Mackenzie SHEARD, age 62, both on vacation from Scotland, were taken to the Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence with non-life threatening injuries. Highway 101 was reduced to one lane, both northbound and southbound, while the investigation was conducted. OSP was assisted by Reedsport Police Department, Gardiner Fire, Western Lane Ambulance, Lower Umpqua Ambulance and the Oregon Department of Transportation. No further information to be released at this time.
