COOS COUNTY, OR - Oregon State Police report that on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101, near milepost 247, in Coos County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford Ranger, operated by Judy Marie Scharf (79) of Brandon, crossed into the southbound lanes for unknown reasons and struck a southbound Chevrolet Silverado, operated by James Earl Yost (71) of Sixes, nearly head-on.
The operator of the Ford (Scharf) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Chevrolet (Yost) suffered reported serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP as assisted by Bandon Fire, Green Acres Fire, Coos County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.
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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon's highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
