COOS COUNTY, OR (UPDATE) - On Monday, April 21, 2025, at 5:59 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) arrested Jonathan James Dowdy. Dowdy was released from RiverBend Hospital after he was admitted and received care for injuries suffered during the crash on April 18.
After his arrest, Jonathan James Dowdy was lodged in the Coos County Jail for the following crimes:
- ORS 163.118 Manslaughter in the First Degree (X2)
- ORS 163.175 Assault in the Second Degree (X3)
- ORS 163.165 Assault in the Third Degree (X5)
- ORS 163.195 Reckless Endangering of a Person (X14)
- ORS 163.196 Aggravated Driving While Suspended or Revoked
- ORS 813.010 Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
- ORS 811.140 Reckless Driving
- ORS 811.182 Driving While Suspended – Misdemeanor
- ORS 164.354 Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree
Oregon State Police is actively investigating the fatal collision and does not have further information to release.
ORIGINAL RELEASE BELOW:
Coos County, Ore. 19 April 2025- On Friday, April 18, 2025, at 9:56 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 42, near milepost 23, in Coos County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Johnathan James Dowdy (32) of Coos Bay, crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and struck an eastbound Chevrolet Express bus, operated by Jami Lea Strinz (46) of Roseburg, head-on. The bus was occupied with 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team.
The operator of the Chevrolet Silverado (Dowdy) suffered serious injuries and was transported to an emergency medical center.
The operator of the Chevrolet Express (Strinz) was transported with critical injuries and was later declared deceased at the hospital.
A passenger of the Chevrolet Express, Kiley Nevaeh Jones (19) of Nampa (ID), was declared deceased at the scene.
The other 8 occupants of the Chevrolet Express, whose identities are not being released at this time, suffered moderate to serious injuries and were provided emergency medical services.
The highway was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation. Impaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash.
Due to the on-going criminal investigation, additional details related to the crash are not available for release.
OSP was assisted by Myrtle Point Police Department, Coquille Police Department, Coos County Sheriff's Office, Myrtle Point Fire, Coquille Fire, and ODOT.
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