DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. (24 August 2026) – On August 21, 2026, at approximately 1:38 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 38 near milepost 27 in Douglas County.  

The preliminary investigation indicated a yellow 2021 Ram 2500 pickup towing a 17-foot boat, operated by Jason Dean Paden (63), of Portland, was eastbound on Highway 38 when it left its lane of travel, crossed the centerline, and struck a 2012 Ford F350 pickup head-on, operated by William Everett Ratledge (56) of Oakland, which was westbound on Highway 38.

The operator of the Ram (Paden) was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Two passengers in the Ram, including a fourteen-year-old female, were also transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.  

The operator of the Ford (Ratledge) was transported by Life Flight to a local hospital.  Two juvenile males were transported to a local hospital with injuries, while a thirteen-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene.     

Highway 38 was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.  

OSP was assisted by Lower Umpqua Ambulance, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Elkton Fire and Rescue, Scottsburg Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Anyone with information about the incident or who may have observed the yellow Ram pickup and boat prior to the crash is asked to contact OSP Dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Please reference case number SP26-273676.

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)  
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.