DEATH INVESTIGATION HIGHWAY 38 NEAR ELKTON -- DOUGLAS COUNTY

Oregon State Police

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Wednesday morning’s accident that lead to the death of a North Bend man on Highway 38 near Elkton.

On May 15, 2019 at about 11:10 AM, OSP troopers and first responders were dispatched to a log truck that had gone into a ditch on Highway 38 near milepost 37.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a loaded Kenworth log truck operated by John DICKENS, age 63, from North Bend, was eastbound on Highway 38.  DICKENS stopped at a wide spot along the highway and exited the log truck.  The log truck started rolling and struck DICKENS while he was outside of it causing fatal injuries.

OSP is continuing the investigation into what caused the log truck to roll while it was unattended.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigators responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

OSP was assisted at the scene by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT, Elkton Fire Department , OSHA, and Mast Brothers Towing.

Photos by Kim J. Deal