Ex-La Pine resident involved in fatal coast crash

A Lincoln City man was killed Friday morning when his car struck the rear of a gravel truck that had just turned onto Highway 101, Oregon State Police reported. The truck driver had just recently moved from La Pine to Lincoln City.

Troopers and medics responded just after 7 a.m. to the reported crash just south of Lincoln City, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate.

Preliminary information revealed a 2007 Kenworth dump truck loaded with gravel, driven by Matthew Nelson, 42, turned north onto Highway 101 near milepost 121.

As the truck was accelerating, a northbound 2007 Saturn sedan collided with the back of it at highway speeds, Fugate said.

Crews arrived to find the car’s driver, Martin Sample, 53, dead at the scene.

Nelson, the former La Pine resident, was unhurt and is cooperating with the investigation, Fugate said.

An initial investigation revealed there were no skid marks from Sample’s car and it appeared he made no attempts to steer around the truck, the

OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Depoe Bay Fire Department. Fugate said the investigation was continuing.