COOS COUNTY, Ore. (21 September 2026) - On Saturday, September 19, 2026, at approximately 4:46 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 42 near milepost 21 in Coos County. This location is within the city limits of Myrtle Point.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Myrtle Point Police Department officer was attempting to contact a suspect, identified as Gregory Paul Olson (69) of Myrtle Point, who had attempted to leave a local business several hours earlier without paying for merchandise. Olson fled from the officer in his vehicle, a silver Land Rover LR3 and traveled eastbound on Highway 42 at a high rate of speed.

Olson subsequently lost control of the vehicle, crossed over the center line, and collided head-on with a westbound blue Subaru Forester, operated by James Edward Price (32) of Myrtle Point, that was towing a jet ski.

The operator of the Subaru (Price) was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

A passenger in the Subaru, Genevieve Marie Huffaker (20) of Coquille, was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.   

A 4-month-old female infant was transported to a Portland-area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Olson suffered serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.  

The Oregon State Police investigation is ongoing.  

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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.