2A • August 7, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
State pinpoints county’s most dangerous roads
respond with law enforce-
ment to a fatal crash and as-
sist the friends and family
through the trauma. Chap-
lain programs are becoming
more popular around the
country. Williams estimates
at least 0 percent of sher-
iff’s of¿ces in Oregon have
such programs.
“It has truly been a
blessing,” he said. “They
can concentrate wholly on
the family and the trauma
and assist them through
that. We have a very devot-
ed group of chaplains that
will come out at a drop of
a hat.”
Highways 101 and 30
have had the most fatal
crashes in Clatsop County
over the past decade
By Kyle Spurr
EO Media Group
U.S. Highway 101 and
U.S. Highway 30 are the
deadliest roads in Clatsop
County.
The two routes have ac-
counted for 39 fatal acci-
dents in the past 10 years,
according to data from
the Oregon Department of
Transportation.
The data allows the state
to pinpoint and prioritize
stretches of roadway that
may be problematic. The
department is then better
able to funnel money to
roadways with the most
crashes for safety improve-
ment projects.
According to Depart-
ment of Transportation
spokesman Lou Torres,
“We really have to know
if there is an intersection
or stretch of road we need
to work on or improve for
safety reasons.”
Last year, the department
identi¿ed a nearly -mile
stretch of U.S. Highway 101
from Camp Rilea Armed
Forces Training Center to
Surf Pines Lane as a priority
safety improvement project.
Speed and
inattention
The data, recorded from
2004 to 2014, shows a to-
tal of 68 fatal accidents in
Clatsop County, resulting in
deaths. The numbers are
slightly higher than neigh-
boring Columbia and Tilla-
mook counties.
The majority of fatal
accidents in Clatsop Coun-
ty were caused by drivers
traveling too fast for con-
ditions and straddling or
crossing the centerline. The
data does not list alcohol or
drugs as inÀuences in the
crashes.
Improving safety
ERICK BENGEL/EO MEDIA GROUP
Jim Mendenhall, owner of Triangle Towing, upends a 2006 Ford Escape that came to rest on its roof after nosediving into the
Dairy Queen parking lot in Gearhart in December 2014. The driver survived the crash.
U.S. Highway 101 saw
22 deaths from 20 acci-
dents, while U.S. Highway
30 had 21 deaths from 19
accidents. U.S. Highway 26
had the third highest fatality
rate, with 15 deaths from 11
accidents.
A total of ¿ve fatal ac-
cidents occurred on county
roads and three happened
on city streets in Cannon
Beach and Seaside.
Clatsop County Sheriff’s
Deputy Paul Williams said
speed and inattention play
signi¿cant factors in crash-
es, along with a lack of pa-
tience on the part of drivers.
A driver’s frustration can
lead to crossing the center-
line, or driving too fast for
conditions.
“The sad fact of the mat-
ter is it’s the same reasons
we have been dealing with
for decades,” Williams said.
“The one change we have
probably seen over the last
couple of decades is the
lack of restraints was much
more prevalent than it is to-
day.”
New seatbelt laws and
advancements in the con-
struction of vehicles have
helped curb fatal crashes,
he said.
For the sheriff’s of¿ce,
the focus is on county roads
which have a relatively low
amount of fatal crashes.
Williams points to lower
speed limits on the local
roads as a main factor.
“You take away speed
and that has a lot to do with
how a crash turns out,” he
said.
On scene
The sheriff’s of¿ce,
Oregon State Police and
local police departments
often work together when
responding to fatal acci-
dents. Fatalities commonly
occur after a vehicle crashes
into a ditch, guardrail or the
person is ejected from the
vehicle, the data shows.
State troopers are regu-
larly called to fatal crashes,
even if the crashes do not
occur on state highways,
because of their enormous
amount of training for that
type of investigation, Wil-
liams said.
Despite the training, Wil-
liams said, law enforcement
of¿cials are not always
able to deal with family or
friends of the deceased, who
may be at the crash scene.
“One of the challenges
we have always dealt with
is the trauma on the scene
and helping the families
that may be there or show
up,” he said.
The sheriff’s of¿ce re-
lies on a chaplain program,
where local church leaders
A key reason for main-
taining the crash data is to
improve the safety of road-
ways across the state, ac-
cording to Torres.
The plan is in place and
individual projects will
begin as funding becomes
available. The ¿rst project
will add a J-turn near Cul-
laby Lake. Work is funded
and scheduled to begin in
2018. Other proposed proj-
ects through the corridor
include adding center turn
lanes, widening the shoul-
ders and improving inter-
sections.
ODOT’s fatal crash data
lists multiple causes for
the crashes. Speed, fatigue
and reckless driving are all
found in the data. So is im-
proper passing, not yielding
and following too closely.
But alcohol or drugs are
not listed as a cause in any
of the fatal crashes over the
past decade.
Williams has a hard time
believing not one crash was
caused by impairment. One
possible explanation is that
crash data is collected be-
fore toxicology reports are
available or drivers are
charged with crimes.
ODOT insists the data is
up to date.
“If there was alcohol or
drug impairment, it would
show up as a cause,” Torres
said. “I can’t explain what
is not there.”
Seaside Police Log
July 17
4:25 p.m., 900 block of 12th
Avenue: Caller reporting
person selling door to door.
Officer located subject
and was advised to seek
business license.
7:19 p.m., Edgewood
Street and Broadway: Caller
reporting possible impaired
driver. Officer conducted a
traffic stop and advised no
impairment but driver did
state a bee had entered her
vehicle at one time.
9:21 p.m., Promenade: Of-
ficer responded to 911 call
about homeless man caus-
ing a disturbance. When
officer arrived man was just
sitting on bench. Officer
spoke with complainant and
stated subject was yelling
about America.
July 18
12:11 p.m., 500 block of
South Holladay Drive: Caller
reported people camping.
Officers made contact
and advised subjects of
complaint.
3:37 p.m., Southbound on
U.S. Highway 101: Caller
reporting person drinking
and driving. Officer located
vehicle and advised no
alcohol, just energy drinks.
Subject advised that caller
was hostile towards them
on the road.
July 19
4:41 a.m., 1100 block of
Avenue D: Caller reported
intoxicated female knocking
and causing a disturbance.
Officers contacted the
subject. She agreed to call
it a night. Officer gave her
in call; officer was unable to
locate described vehicle.
him to swerve. Stated they
would quit arguing while
driving.
responded. Verbal dispute;
parties separated. No
impairment.
6:50 p.m., 400 block of
South Holladay Drive:
Officers responded to report
of suspicious persons. Upon
officer arrival, subject was
warned for trespass.
4:43 p.m., 11100 block
of North Roosevelt Drive:
Officer responded to report
of male possibly on drugs,
requesting a welfare check.
Officer located subject who
took off swimming across
the river and was unable to
be located after searching
the area.
8:02 p.m., 300 block of
South Columbia Street:
Officers responded to
report of vandalism. Officers
responded; warned subject
of disorderly conduct.
Reporting party could not
be contacted.
6:40 p.m., 300 block of
South Edgewood Street: Of-
ficers responded to subject
making lewd comments to
people as they walked by.
Officers pulled away due to
priority call.
July 22
July 24
9:04 a.m., 1700 block of
12th Avenue: Caller report-
ed vandalism from the
night before. Officer made
contact.
July 20
10:25 a.m., 500 block of
South Downing Street:
Daughter called in with
complaints about mother
having mental issues, re-
quested a welfare check. Of-
ficer made contact, subject
was uncooperative, warned
for disorderly conduct.
2:36 a.m., Stop ‘N’ Go:
Officer stopped vehicle
mentioned in three traffic
complaints. Complainant
did not want to press
charges. Subjects warned
of issues.
a courtesy ride to another
location.
2:32 p.m., 200 block of
South Roosevelt Drive:
Officer responded to report
of person selling things from
within vehicle. Advised of
ordinance and business
license.
5:57 a.m., Beach near Turn-
around: Caller requested
welfare check on overnight
camper with a small child.
Officer checked on them
and they were fine.
4:01 p.m., 400 block of
South Roosevelt Drive:
Assisted the fire department
with a bark dust smoldering.
12:19 p.m., Broadway and
Columbia Street: Caller
reported missing child.
Mother and child reunited
before officer arrived.
1:38 p.m., Southbound
from Fourth Avenue: Caller
reported intoxicated male
falling down and all over the
place. Officer made contact
with subject and gave
him a courtesy ride to his
residence.
7:25 p.m., 800 block of
Fourth Avenue: Officers
responded to report of peo-
ple arguing as they walked
down the street. Upon
officer arrival, no argument
was taking place. Subjects
warned for disorderly
conduct.
July 21
9:06 a.m., 2500 block of
South Roosevelt Drive: Offi-
cer assisted with disoriented
patient.
8:51 p.m., 700 block of
Ocean Way Drive: Third-par-
ty caller reporting possible
burglary in progress. Officer
responded and advised
responsible on scene and
had left the door open. All
was OK.
July 23
9:26 a.m., 400 South Roos-
evelt Drive: Officers assisted
Medix Ambulance, subject
transported by Medix to
Seaside Providence Hospital.
2:16 p.m., 88800 block of
Dawson: Caller reporting
traffic complaint. Officer
located vehicle and advised
subject was arguing with
wife which may have caused
6:21 p.m., 400 block of Roo-
sevelt Drive: Caller reported
woman saying she had
been attacked. Officers lo-
cated subjects. Female was
chasing the male. Subjects
were warned for disorderly
conduct.
10:48 p.m., 1600 block of
North Roosevelt Drive: Caller
reported hearing a couple
fighting. Officers responded
and made contact. Subjects
left the area.
July 25
2:28 p.m., 1000 block of
South Columbia Street:
Report of a physical distur-
bance, only heard not seen.
Officers made contact,
subjects advised verbal only.
Subjects warned about
disorderly conduct.
6:13 p.m., 1600 block of
North Roosevelt Drive: 911
caller reported possible
drunk driver. Officer
11:39 p.m., Turnaround:
Subject cited for open
container.
July 26
12:52 a.m., Avenue A: 911
call reported large group of
people yelling and making
noise. Officer responded.
Group had dispersed.
10:24 a.m., Third Avenue
and Downing Street: Caller
reported suspicious person
on bike. Officer responded
and made contact.
1:17 p.m., 2300 block of
South Roosevelt Drive:
Report of possible code
violation. Officer responded
and made contact. Issued
warning for selling without
a business license and with-
out permission of property
owner.
2:12 p.m., Edgewood Street
and First Avenue: 911 caller
reported small dog in hot
car that had vomited on
floor. Officer responded,
found to be 103 degrees in
car. Officer about to enter
vehicle and take dog when
owner arrived.
3:43 p.m., First Avenue and
Promenade: Report of an
intoxicated subject. He was
advised about detox.
5:47 p.m., 1000 Avenue
F: Officer located a male
passed out at a church. He
was warned.
4:33 p.m., U.S. Highway 101:
911 caller reported his wife
was being tailgated by a
driver displaying road rage.
Officer witnessed tailgating,
and stopped and cited
driver.
July 27
7:41 a.m., 900 block of
Oceanway: Caller reported
a disturbance. Verbal in
nature. Parties separated
and subject agreed to leave
for the dat.
6:10 p.m., 700 block of
Avenue B: Officer contacted
intoxicated female, who
had fallen and bumped her
head. Medix responded to
transport her to the hospital.
10:01 a.m., 2100 Lewis and
Clark Road: Caller reported
child’s scooter was taken by
another child. Officers talk-
ed to both parties and were
unable to find that crime
had been committed.
11:43 a.m., South Edge-
wood Street: Caller reported
driver going over the posted
speed limit in a residential
neighborhood. A time delay
L Y L E ’S
8:55 p.m., 400 block of
South Roosevelt Drive:
Officer responded to report
of shoplifter. Upon officer ar-
rival, subject was trespassed
from business.
10:31 p.m., 1100 block
of South Downing Street:
July 29
12:28 a.m., 900 block
of South Holladay Drive:
Officers responded to report
of unwanted person. Upon
officer contact, subject was
trespassed from premises.
12:48 p.m., 1900 block of
North Roosevelt Drive: Clat-
sop Sheriff’s Office called in
an accident. Officers arrived
on scene; subject already
called a tow. No damage, no
injuries.
5:39 p.m., Broadway Park:
Officer responded to 911
call about male acting
suspiciously and advised
subject under influence of
drugs and advised to leave
the park. Subject stated he
would comply.
July 30
2:10 a.m., 200 block of
Broadway: Officer checked
on water running in the
street.
8:42 a.m., 400 block of
North Wahanna Road:
Report of a male that was
sleeping in his trailer on the
property. Officers made
contact, subject was not
sleeping in his trailer. He
was also moving out soon.
11:51 p.m., 100 block of
North Columbia Street: Call-
er reported hearin gunshots.
Officers responded and
talked to others in the area.
They heard fireworks but no
gunshots.
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