News release from the Lincon Co. Sheriff’s Office. On December 11, 2015 at approximately 5:08pm, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a missing adult male who left his residence before daylight en route to a logging site on the 900 Road located north of the Siletz Gorge. The subject reportedly never made it to the job site and was overdue to return home. Deputies responded to the subject’s residence in Otis to investigate. Deputies learned 66 year old Otis resident Roger D. Williamson left his residence and was expected to travel to the logging site via USFS Road 17 to Gravel Creek Road and east to the 900 Road located near the Lincoln and Polk County border. Williamson was reportedly operating a red 1990 Jeep Cherokee. Lincoln County Search and Rescue members along with family members and private citizens searched the routes leading to the area of the job site throughout the night but were unable to locate Williamson or his vehicle. On December 12, 2015 at approximately 9:05am, deputies searching the area of Werner Road near the Highway 229 intersection were contacted by logging employees returning from an unrelated logging operation who reported a co-worker had assisted a male subject matching the description of Williamson the previous afternoon. The co-worker reportedly assisted the subject who was stuck in a ditch on Werner Road in the area of Milepost 1.5 in a red Jeep Cherokee. The subject was reported as acting disoriented and was last seen traveling east on Werner Road. Deputies continued searching the area for Williamson. At approximately 10:00am, deputies located tire tracks leading off the roadway near Milepost 6.4 and discovered Williamson’s vehicle down an embankment approximately 80 feet below the roadway. Deputies and Lincoln County Search and Rescue members made there way down the embankment and located Williamson approximately 20 feet below the vehicle. Williamson was demonstrating signs of hypothermia but was able to communicate with deputies. On scene personnel remained with Williamson and provided first aid until fire and medical personnel arrived on scene. The Lincoln County Rope Rescue Team, comprised of members from several Lincoln County fire and rescue agencies, was dispatched to the scene to assist with recovering Williamson from the ravine. Williamson was subsequently transported by PacWest Ambulance to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital for medical treatment. Williamson’s vehicle was removed from the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation at this time.
