Salem-News.com Reedsport articles

Police Identify Victim in Ore. Highway 38 Crash into Umpqua River

Last year in Oregon, four people died in 4 separate traffic crashes during the 102-hour Fourth of July holiday period.

(REEDSPORT, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation into the cause of Wednesday afternoon's fatal crash after a sport utility vehicle went into the Umpqua River as it traveled along Highway 38 about six miles east of Reedsport in Douglas County.

According to Lieutenant Steve Mitchell, on July 2 at approximately 3:49 p.m., a 1991 Ford Explorer driven by 54-year-old Kenneth Ray Richards, from Coos Bay, was traveling westbound on Highway 38 near milepost 6. For an unknown reason, it traveled off the highway into the Umpqua River where it became submerged.

Man Shot in The Head While Snorkeling in Oregon River

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

(REEDSPORT) - Police on Wednesday arrested 60-year-old William Roderick of Reedsport in connection with the shooting of a man while he was snorkeling in the Smith River, just north of Reedsport.

A Douglas County Sheriff's spokesman says 44-year-old John Chessman is hospitalized in serious condition at OHSU with a gun shot wound to the head.

The Douglas County major crimes team is investigating a number of leads in Tuesday afternoon's shooting.