Preliminary information from the scene indicates that at approximately 3:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30, a black, 2012 Honda CR-V, operated by HEATHER R. FRIEDRICH, age 44, of North Bend, was eastbound when it crossed the centerline into the westbound lanes and hit a tan, 2004 Toyota Camry, driven by KATHLEEN D. HANDCOCK, 57 of Coos Bay, which was westbound. The front passenger in the Camry, VIRGINIA L. WHALEN-JENNINGS, 59, of Coquille, was pronounced deceased at the scene. FRIEDRICH was transported to Lower Umpqua Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. HANDCOCK and her rear passenger were transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend with non-life threatening injuries. The highway was blocked for several hours as troopers investigated and reconstructed the crash. The Oregon Department of Transportation responded to assist and a traffic detour was established.
