News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office. Narrative: Over the weekend, Coos County Sheriff’s Dune Patrol Deputies, Hauser Fire and Bay Cities Paramedics responded to two major incidents at the Oregon National Dunes Recreation Area. The first incident (S201606419) occurred Saturday evening in the Hauser Flats area involving a sand rail that had overturned. The operator, 44yo Jim Medeiros and his wife 39yo Michelle Talay, both from Central Point OR were riding in their sandrail heading north from the V8 dune when the vehicle overturned and ejected both occupants. Neither occupant was wearing their restraints. Medeiros suffered minor injuries. Talay was transported to Bay Area hospital for non-life threating injuries. Upon completion of the investigation, a mechanical error in the vehicle was to blame. The second incident (S201606448) occurred Sunday afternoon on the beach outside of the Horsefall campground. A group of young adult were swimming in the ocean when two of the swimmers, 19yo Morgan Johnson of Alaska and 19yo James Kelly of Nevada were caught in a rip tide. The two struggled for a short time to get out of the current and were eventually assisted to shore by the other swimmers and the Dune Patrol deputy. Both suffered from exhaustion and sea water inhalation. Both were transported to Bay Area hospital.
