Oregon community college coach and player killed when truck crashes into bus carrying softball team
Apr 19, 2025, 5:48 PM
FILE - A flower is posted on a direction sign to Umpqua Community College, Oct. 2, 2015, in Roseburg, Ore. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) 鈥� An Oregon college softball team traveling from a game was involved in a two-vehicle crash that killed an athlete and coach, authorities said Saturday.
The driver of a pickup truck crossed a centerline and crashed head-on into a bus carrying 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team Friday night in Coos County, Oregon State Police said.
Jami Strinz, 46, described on the school’s website as , was driving the Chevrolet Express bus. Police said she was later declared dead at a hospital. Passenger, Kiley Jones, 19, was declared dead at the scene. The freshman from Nampa, Idaho, played , according to the school’s athletics department website.
The team was traveling from a game in Coos Bay, according to a post on X by the athletics department.
鈥淲e are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our student-athletes and one of our coaches lost their lives in the accident,鈥� the post said. 鈥淯CC hearts are breaking with this news, and we ask the community to keep the families and all of those affect in their thoughts and prayers.鈥�
The other eight occupants of the bus suffered 鈥渕oderate to serious injuries and were provided emergency medical services,鈥� police said. The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado truck suffered serious injuries and was taken to an emergency medical center.
鈥淚mpaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash,鈥� police said. A criminal investigation is ongoing.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement on X that her 鈥渉eart aches鈥� for the school family reeling from the tragedy. 鈥淥regon is here for you in your grief and loss,” she said.
