Hwy. 101 Fatal, July 21

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Saturday morning’s single vehicle fatal traffic crash that resulted in the death of an off-duty California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation corrections officer as he was returning home from work along Highway 101 about one mile north of the Oregon/California border.  On July 19, 2014 at approximately 7:15 a.m., OSP and local emergency responders were notified of a single vehicle traffic crash off Highway 101 near milepost 362. Upon arrival, a deceased adult male driver was located at the scene.  Preliminary investigation indicates a 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by JOEL RAMOS, age 29, from Brookings, was traveling northbound when it crossed the southbound lane and went off the highway. The car struck a large stump and then crashed head-on into a tree where it came to rest. RAMOS was using safety restraints and the car’s airbags deployed.  Troopers confirmed RAMOS had gotten off work at Pelican Bay State Prison and was returning home when the crash occurred. Driver fatigue is being investigated as a possible contributing factor. Next of kin and prison officials were notified of his death.