Two serious car crashes that took place within a mile of each other on Highway 30 on July 26 and July 30 caused people to speak out on social media about concerns over safety on that stretch of road.
Both accidents were revealed to be “head-on collisions.” The July 26 accident claimed the lives of two Scappoose residents, and the July 30 accident resulted in serious injuries for three people, including two victims who needed to be flown to a trauma center via LifeFlight helicopters.
Oregon State Police (OSP) identified the people involved in the July 30 accident as William Jacob Kelly and, Ashleigh Annamay Baumgarden of Astoria, and Cole Jacob Warren of Clatskanie. Baumgarden and Kelly were on the way to a prenatal appointment at the time of the accident, mere weeks before Baumgarden was set to be induced, according to a friend of Kelly who organized a GoFundMe.
The GoFundMe seeks to raise funds for the couple and their newborn daughter, as Baumgarten and the child are in critical condition, and Kelly has had multiple surgeries, according to the GoFundMe’s description. Of the $12,000 goal, the fundraiser has already received $11,440 as of Aug. 6.
The collision took place at about 1:45 p.m. on July 30 near milepost 50.5, only a half mile from a fatal accident that occurred on July 26. According to OSP, the initial investigation indicated that a westbound SUV crossed over into the eastbound lane, where it struck another vehicle.
Word spread to the community via social media, with Facebook groups for the Rainier and Clatskanie abuzz with posts on the crashes. Many commenters on social media discussed the need for more safety measures on this stretch of Highway 30.
Only five days earlier, on July 26, OSP responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy-30, near milepost 51, in Columbia County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound gray Kia Soul, operated by Bridget Ann Connell of Scappoose, was attempting to make a left-hand turn into Valley Veterinary Clinic when it was rear-ended by a westbound white GMC Sierra, operated by William Eugene Howard of Rainier. The collision pushed the Kia into the eastbound lane, where it was struck head-on by an eastbound black Dodge Journey operated by Jennifer Lynn Huff of Westport.
The driver of the Kia (B. Connell) and passenger, Nyx Ariel Connell (47) of Scappoose, were declared deceased at the scene. Howard was driving the GMC and suffered reported minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The operator of the Dodge (Huff) and passengers, a six-year-old male and a ten-year-old female, suffered reported minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital.
Hearing from ODOT
When asked whether the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is considering increasing safety measures in the area following the July 30 accident, Public Affairs Specialist David House said the two crashes were not in the same location.
“That crash (July 26) was at least a half a mile to the west, I believe. It’s not the same location,” House said. “With the clinic, the [July 26] crash is the third crash we have on record there since 1985. So, this stretch ranks pretty low in our priority list for safety improvements.”
House did say that ODOT conducted safety improvements in the area in 2011 to increase visibility in that area. As of right now, though, further changes don’t seem likely.
“We did some widening on the highway in that area so that places where there are driveways, people may want to turn left, there’s space to pass on the right,” House said. “It’s a long, straight, flat stretch where visibility is pretty good. So, there’s no immediate plans to do any additional changes to the highway right now.”
To donate to the GoFundMe for Jake Kelly and Ashleigh Baumgarden, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jake-ashleigh-and-baby-girls-recovery .
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