Astoria, OR – A 26-year-old Clatskanie man was killed in a three-vehicle crash Thursday evening on U.S. Highway 30, located midway between Astoria and Clatskanie. The fatal collision occurred around 6 p.m. when the man, later identified as August Aleksander Crawford, was driving a Mazda3 eastbound.
According to police reports, Crawford attempted to pass a Freightliner truck and trailer in a no-passing zone. As he moved into the westbound lane, he encountered an oncoming fuel tanker and trailer. Crawford attempted to return to the eastbound lane but was unable to avoid sideswiping the Freightliner.
The loss of control caused Crawford’s vehicle to veer into the path of the fuel tanker, resulting in a head-on collision. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but Crawford did not survive the crash.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details about the incident. The highway was briefly closed while officials conducted their investigation and cleared the wreckage.
