January 7, 2013
Lieutenant Gregg Hastings
Public Information Officer
According to Lieutenant Justin McGladrey, on January 6, 2013 at approximately 10:30 a.m., a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with a Polaris off-road vehicle was driven by SPENCER K. FOLEY, age 23, from Toledo, southbound on Highway 101 near milepost 152 when the trailer began to fishtail side to side. The trailer disengaged from the pickup and entered the northbound lane where it collided into the driver side of a northbound 2005 Toyota Sienna van occupied by two women. Upon impact, the Polaris came off the trailer and struck the van.
The two adult women in the van were pronounced deceased at the scene. The are identified as driver SUZANNE CAROL AIKEN, age 69, and her mother/passenger, LOISE A. RAETHER, age 94, both from Yachats.
SPENCER FOLEY, passenger BOBBI J. FOLEY, age 23, and their 2-year old son were not injured. The pickup was not struck during the collision between the trailer and van.
All occupants were using safety restraints and the van's airbags deployed.
Trooper Brett Danner is the lead investigator.
OSP was assisted by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County District Attorney's Office, Lincoln County Medical Examiner, Central Coast Fire & Rescue, Seal Rock Fire & Rescue, ODOT, and PacWest Ambulance.
The highway was blocked for four hours during the investigation.