Fatal Three-Vehicle Collision near Port Orford

On the morning of January 1, 2024, around 9:35 a.m., the Oregon State Police were called to the scene of a three-vehicle collision on Hwy. 101, near milepost 291, in Curry County.

According to the initial investigation, a Toyota Corolla driven by Josiah James Selvy (19) of Port Orford was heading northbound on Hwy. 101. The vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, resulting in a head-on collision with a Chevy 2500 towing a 26-foot trailer.

In an attempt to avoid the Toyota, the driver of the Chevy, Leslie Lewis Martin (80) of Clearlake (WA), swerved but was halted by the guardrail. The impact forced the Toyota back into the southbound lane, where it came to a stop.

Tragically, Josiah James Selvy, the Toyota's operator, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Leslie Lewis Martin, the driver of the Chevy, and a passenger were taken to a local hospital with injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening. Two dogs in the vehicle were transferred to a local animal rescue for temporary care.

The incident caused a disruption on the highway for approximately 2.5 hours. The Oregon State Police received assistance from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Sixes River Fire Department, Langlois Fire Department, Cal Ore Ambulance, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.