Portland injury attorney

Two Men Killed in Single Vehicle Accident, Driver Facing Charges

02/11/11

Location: Highway 101 South of Seal Rock
Names: Jose Manuel De Leon Colomo

The driver of a vehicle involved in a single car crash that resulted in the death of two male passengers was arrested by Oregon State Police after his release from a hospital.

News reports state that on February 1 at approximately 10:30am, Jose Manuel De Leon Colomo, age 24 of Newport, was driving northbound in a 1997 Chrysler van on Highway 101 near milepost 154. As he rounded a left curve, the van left the highway and crashed into a tree, breaking the vehicle into pieces that were strewn along the highway.

Colomo was extricated from the vehicle by emergency responders from the Seal Rock Fire Department and transported by air ambulance to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with non-life threatening injuries.

Colomo’s two adult male passengers died at the scene of the accident and their names have not been released pending identification and notification of next of kin. One of the victims had been ejected from the van. Alcohol is being investigated as a contributing factor to the crash.

Colomo was arrested on February 2 upon release from the hospital and taken to Lincoln County Jail in Newport where he was being held on the following charges:

  • Two (2) counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants;
  • Two (2) counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Reckless Driving.

What a tragic ending to lives; our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two men who died in the crash. The families may not even have been notified yet, but we hope that that will happen soon so that they can begin their mourning process and to honor the memory of their loved ones. We also are thinking of Mr. Colomo and his future remains in doubt as he proceeds through the justice system. Mr. Colomo is innocent until proven guilty and we hope he gets the assistance he will need.

We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit without an attorney. When a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Portland accident attorney.