COOS COUNTY, OR — On Friday, July 4, 2025, at approximately 1:06 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a four-vehicle fatal crash in Coos County near Lakeside.
The preliminary investigation indicated a beige Kia Optima, operated by Manual Samuel Starr (38) of Coos Bay, was traveling northbound when it crossed the centerline for unknown reasons. The Kia sideswiped a southbound black Toyota Corolla, operated by Kent McQuillen (61) of Florence, before colliding head-on with a black Dodge Ram, operated by Jose Maria Rodriguez Garcia (55) of Coos Bay. A southbound silver Subaru Outback, operated by Lori Priest (61) of Lake Stevens, Washington, was unable to avoid the crash and also collided head-on with the Kia.
The operator of the Kia (Starr) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Kia's rear passenger, Shatara Rosemarie Holmes (39) of Coos Bay, was also pronounced deceased at the scene. A seven-month-old female infant, the operator and passenger's child, did not appear to be injured, but was transported to a local hospital.
The operator of the Dodge Ram (Rodriguez Garcia) was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The front passenger, Nicole Virginia Rodriguez (44) of Coos Bay, was transported to a local hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries. Passenger Jose Rodriguez Chase Jr. (20) of Coos Bay, a three-year-old male passenger, and a 14-year-old female passenger had reported minor injuries.
The operator of the Subaru (Priest) had reported minor injuries. Passenger Nanette Myra Priest (55) of Lake Stevens (WA) and a 10-year-old passenger were not injured.
The operator of the Toyota (McQuillen) was not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Coos County Sheriff's Office, Hauser Fire Department, North Bay Fire Department, Lower Umpqua Ambulance, Bay Cities Ambulance, Coos County Medical Examiner, North Bend Chapel, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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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.
