Tragedy strikes Oregon community college as coach and player killed in crash
- An accident involving a team bus and a pickup truck occurred while the Umpqua Community College softball team was returning from a game.
- Two lives were lost in the accident, including head coach Jami Strinz and player Kiley Jones, while others sustained injuries requiring medical attention.
- The community is grieving the loss and receiving support as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
In a tragic incident on Friday night, April 18, 2025, an unfortunate collision in Oregon claimed the lives of a college softball coach and a student-athlete. The Umpqua Community College softball team was traveling home from a game held in Coos Bay when their bus was involved in a head-on collision. This occurred around 9:56 p.m. when a Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 32-year-old Johnathan James Dowdy, crossed the center line and crashed into the bus carrying the team. Upon the impact, Jami Strinz, the 46-year-old head coach of the team who was driving the bus, sustained critical injuries and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Freshman player Kiley Jones, aged 19 and hailing from Nampa, Idaho, was declared dead at the scene. She played the position of first base and had appeared in 28 games during her season with the team. There were 10 team members aboard the bus, of whom eight suffered moderate to serious injuries and were subsequently treated at local hospitals in Eugene and Portland. Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene following the crash, with police attributing impaired driving as a primary factor in the collision. The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado, while seriously injured in the accident, is currently undergoing medical treatment. The school community is mourning the loss of both Strinz and Jones, who were held in high regard by their peers, and support services have been made available for students and staff affected by this tragic event. Umpqua Community College’s President, Dr. Rachel Pokrandt, expressed her condolences, reflecting the profound grief felt by the community. Investigations into the crash are ongoing as officials gather more information surrounding the circumstances leading to this heartbreaking event. As the local community and the college cope with the fallout of this incident, numerous tributes and expressions of sympathy have poured in from various stakeholders, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who highlighted the state’s support for those grieving this loss. The UCC softball team is slated to play next Friday, indicating that even amidst grief, the resilience of the community is evident as they begin to heal from this profound tragedy.