On February 2, 2013 at approximately 7:42 a.m., a citizen notified a Manzanita police officer of a vehicle in the brush off Highway 53 just north of the Highway 101 junction. The officer went to the scene and confirmed a fatal crash occurred at the location. An OSP trooper from the Tillamook Area Command office responded to investigate.
Preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at an unknown time during the early morning hours. A 1987 Honda Civic two-door driven by a 36-year old male from Nehalem was southbound on Highway 53 and as it entered a left curve it traveled off the highway and rolled several times. The Honda came to rest about 30 feet off the roadway in blackberry bushes and the driver was ejected. The victim is identified as ZANONI ARIZONA HARTFORD.
OSP Trooper Jace Hall is the lead investigator.
Manzanita Police Department, Nehalem Bay Rural Fire Department, and ODOT assisted at the scene.