Car crashes into Newport business Saturday

The driver of a vehicle that crashed into a building in Newport’s Deco District on Saturday afternoon, June 8, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants.

The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. when a Kia Amanti, driven by Christopher Daniel Johnson, 38, of Newport, jumped the curb, took out a streetlamp, and struck a building at 437 SW Coast Highway. That building houses Red Lotus Music.

Johnson had been traveling north on Highway 101 in fairly heavy weekend traffic when the crash occurred. According to the police report, he told law enforcement officials that he had fallen asleep at the wheel, and the last thing he remembered was crossing over the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Officers on the scene observed multiple signs that the driver appeared to be impaired, according Newport Police Lt. Tyson Haynes. Field sobriety tests were conducted that showed impairment, and Johnson was arrested for DUII. He was later lodged in the Lincoln County Jail.

There were no reported injuries, but the incident certainly generated a lot of attention, both from passing motorists and others who happened to be in the area at the time.

Darius King was working at Pulling the Pros Sports Cards, a business located in a building next door to the crash site.

“At first I thought he just hit the sandwich board and kept going,” said King, “but then that light pole fell down and I had that first moment of shock … and then I felt the whole building shake.” The broken street light, parts from the car and glass from the store windows were strewn about the sidewalk.