Astoria, OR – A tragic crash on Highway 30 in Clatsop County resulted in the death of a 26-year-old driver Thursday evening. According to Oregon State Police (OSP), the incident occurred at approximately 6:04 p.m. near milepost 77 when a Mazda 3, driven by August Aleksander Crawford of Clatskanie, was involved in a three-vehicle collision.
The crash unfolded when Crawford attempted to pass a semi-trailer in a no-passing zone. As he attempted to overtake an eastbound Freightliner CMV, Crawford’s vehicle veered into the westbound lane, directly into the path of an oncoming Mack fuel tanker. Crawford quickly tried to maneuver his vehicle back into the eastbound lane, but he lost control and sideswiped the Freightliner. The Mazda then collided head-on with the tanker truck.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Crawford succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the crash. The drivers of the Freightliner and the Mack tanker, identified as 42-year-old Steven Rabon Skripsey II and 32-year-old Taranjot Panglia, respectively, were unharmed and declined medical attention at the scene.
The accident caused a significant disruption in traffic, with Highway 30 being closed for approximately eight hours as authorities conducted their investigation. The OSP Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU), a specialized team equipped with advanced technology, including unmanned aircraft systems, was called in to analyze the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. The CRU’s role is to thoroughly investigate complex vehicle collisions, and it is routinely deployed in fatal incidents across Oregon’s highways.
OSP cited unsafe passing as the primary cause of the crash, noting that Crawford’s decision to overtake a semi-trailer in a no-passing zone led to the series of collisions. Local fire departments and the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in managing the aftermath of the incident.
This fatal crash serves as a reminder of the dangers of unsafe passing and the importance of adhering to traffic laws for the safety of all road users. The investigation into the incident continues as authorities piece together the details of the tragic event.
