Fatal Crash Claims The Life Of Waldport Man

A fatal crash occurred on Highway 101 on Wednesday evening June 4, 2025, that closed Highway 101 with a detour in place for four hours. At about 3:55 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 north of Seal Rock at Ona Beach. The preliminary investigation indicated a blue Ford Taurus, operated by 23-year old Jonathan Joseph Channels Waldport, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 101 at the Ona Beach Curves when, for an unknown reason, the Taurus crossed over the center into the northbound lane. The Taurus collided with a white Ram 2500 truck operated by 54-year-old Kevin Michael Nelsen of Santa Rosa, California.

The Waldport driver, Channels, the operator of the Ford Taurus, was declared deceased at the scene. Nelson, the operator of the Ram and a passenger, in the truck 38-year old Nicholas Nelsen, also of Santa Rosa, California, were transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital with minor injuries. The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. Oregon State Police were assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, PacWest Ambulance, Seal Rock Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.