COOS COUNTY, Ore. (April 16, 2026) — An 18-year-old Coquille woman was killed Wednesday afternoon in a head-on crash involving a wrong-way driver on Highway 101, according to the Oregon State Police.
Troopers responded to the crash around 2:48 p.m. on April 15 near milepost 260. A preliminary investigation found that a white Mercedes E400, driven by 78-year-old Bernard Cooley of Bandon, was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of the highway.
Authorities said the Mercedes nearly collided with a Bandon Police Department patrol vehicle and another passenger car. A Bandon officer activated emergency lights and attempted to catch up to the wrong-way driver.
Before the officer could initiate a stop, the Mercedes struck a guardrail and re-entered the southbound lane, where it collided head-on with a blue Mazda Mazda3 driven by Mariah Mayfield, 18, of Coquille.
Mayfield was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cooley sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Highway 101 was impacted for approximately three hours as crews investigated the crash and cleared the scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Assisting agencies included the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Bandon Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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