Driver charged with manslaughter, DUII in crash that killed Umpqua Community College softball coach and player

COOS BAY, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon State Police arrested a Coos Bay man upon release from a Eugene-area hospital Monday evening on two counts of manslaughter and numerous other charges in a crash that killed the coach and a player with the Umpqua Community College softball team. 

Johnathan James Dowdy, 32 was booked into the Coos County Jail, also facing charges of DUII, eight assault charges, 14 counts of reckless endangering of a person, and single counts of aggravated driving with a suspended or revoked license, reckless driving, criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license, troopers said Tuesday. 

Kiley Jones, 19, a freshman softball player from Nampa, Idaho, died at the crash scene Friday evening on state Highway 42 as the 10 team members and coach returned to the college from a game in Coos County. The head coach, Jami Strinz, who was driving the small Chevy Express bus, died later at the hospital. The eight other players on the bus suffered moderate to serious injuries, OSP said. 

Troopers said Dowdy was driving a Chevy Silverado that crossed the center line and struck the eastbound bus head-on. 

Court records show Dowdy was charged last month in a January DUII case in Coos County. He had been cited numerous times since 2019 for driving with a suspended license and without insurance and previously for driving without a license.