Hwy. 42 Fatal, June 15

A 56-year old Coos Bay man was killed Sunday morning, June 14, after his motorcycle collided with a Ford Escort operated by a 17-year old female, also from Coos Bay. According to a news release from Coos Co. District Attorney R. Paul Frasier, the accident occurred at approximately 10:58 a.m., near milepost 27 on Hwy. 42 near the Endicott Bridge. The unidentified female was placed in custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. She has been released from custody; however, no formal charges have been filed. Killed was Lester W. Swafford. He was westbound with a riding companion, when they came upon the westbound Escort. Frasier says the driver of the Escort pulled off the road onto the shoulder. The first motorcycle passed her, but she then made a u-turn in front of the second motorcycle, Swafford’s, which crashed into the driver’s side front end. The motorcycle continued across the eastbound lane and hit a guardrail where it caught on fire. The riding companion saw the accident in his mirror and came back. He pulled Swafford out from under the burning bike, but was deceased. The investigation is continuing and Frasier says he will make the decision on whether or not formal charges will be filed or not. According to his news release, the DA is waiting for the Oregon State Police reconstruction report, toxicology results and a detailed inspection of the motorcycle.