Jefferson County, OR. — Oregon State Police are requesting public assistance as investigators continue to examine a fatal vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash that occurred Saturday morning on Highway 97.
The crash occurred on January 10, 2026, at approximately 11:43 a.m. near milepost 101 in Jefferson County. According to preliminary findings, a silver Ford Explorer driven by James Edwin Legore, 63, of Sandy, Utah, was stopped on the shoulder of the northbound lanes and began merging back onto the highway when it struck a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, Jared Elijah Cooper, 38, of Madras, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators said Cooper was associated with a gray or aluminum Dodge Grand Caravan that was parked at the crash location.
Legore was reportedly uninjured.
OSP investigators are specifically seeking witnesses who may have seen the silver Ford Explorer or the Dodge Grand Caravan prior to or at the time of the crash, which occurred between approximately 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Authorities say any additional details could be critical to determining the cause of the collision.
Traffic on Highway 97 was affected for approximately five hours while the on-scene investigation was conducted. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the OSP Northern Command Dispatch Center at 800-442-0776 or by dialing *OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Callers are asked to reference case number SP26-010591.
OSP was assisted at the scene by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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