In Newport, a driver drifted her car onto the shoulder and killed Jere Quinn from Roberts, Montana, who was vacationing at Beverly Beach State Park with his wife. The driver may have been sleepy. Our thoughts are with the Quinn family.
From the Oregon State Police:
A Montana-area man riding a bicycle was killed this past Sunday when he was struck by a motorist on the shoulder of Highway 101 near the north end of Newport.
On September 17, 2006 at approximately 8:00 a.m., a 1998 Honda CRV driven by Barbara J. Gill, age 58, from Newport, was southbound near milepost 136 when it drifted onto the highway shoulder, struck a mailbox and then collided head-on with a bicyclist. The bicyclist, Jere L. Quinn, age 69, from Roberts, Montana, was riding northbound on the southbound highway shoulder when he was struck. After impact, Quinn came to rest in the middle of the southbound lane. The Honda struck an embankment and rolled onto its top.
Quinn was pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators advise he was vacationing in the area with his wife and staying at Beverly Beach State Park.
Gill was using safety restraints and received minor injury. She was transported by ambulance to Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport where she was treated and released.
Oregon State Police troopers from the Newport Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Due to staffing levels, no OSP troopers were on duty and had to be called out from their residence to respond and investigate.
Preliminary investigation indicates driver fatigue may be a contributing factor. Assistance was provided by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police Department, and ODOT.
