Hwy. 38 Fatal, April 13

Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Saturday, April 11, afternoon’s fatal traffic crash that occurred on Highway 38 near milepost 49 in Douglas County. Preliminary information from investigators indicates that around 2 p.m., on April 11, friends of ELIZABETH A. CLOSS, 18, of Drain, with whom she had been staying, reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office that she was missing/overdue. Deputies located her cell phone signal, and friends assisting in the search drove to the area to which her phone was tracked. Shortly thereafter they discovered tire tracks leading off the roadway down a steep embankment where they located the vehicle at about 2:50 a.m. on Sunday April 12. According to OSP Sergeant Matt Bowersox, the involved vehicle was a maroon, 1992 Toyota Corolla, which had gone over the steep bank about 40 feet and crashed into a tree. Preliminary information indicates CLOSS was not wearing safety restraints during the crash. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The Oregon Department of Transportation responded to assist with the vehicle’s removal and roadway closure.