Multiple agencies, including the Brookings Police Department, Harbor Fire Department and Cal Ore Life Flight Ambulance all responded with Curry County Sheriff’s Deputies to Beach Front RV park off Lower Harbor Road in Harbor, after numerous 911 calls regarding a vehicle versus pedestrians situation early Monday afternoon, July 4th.
Early Monday afternoon, just before 2:30pm, Curry County Sheriff’s Office dispatch began receiving 911 calls reporting a vehicle had run over several people as well as striking several Recreational Vehicles at Beach Front RV park, with one reporting numerous injured people with one currently receiving CPR, and the suspect vehicle was still at the site.
First responders arrived within minutes, attending to the injured as Deputies contacted a male subject that was driving a large Econo Van that had driven into the crowd of people. The driver of the van, identified as 66 year old Paul Armenta out of Brookings, Or., who witnesses stated appeared to be passed out behind the wheel.
Armenta struck 3 individuals identified as 79 year old Doris Dianne Bever from Discovery Bay, California, 47 year old Rebecca Williams from White City, Oregon, and 38 year old Hiedei Bailey from White City, Oregon. Both Bailey’s and Williams’s vehicles that were parked next to each other were both struck causing major damage to both vehicles prior to striking the two women.
Armenta, Bever and Bailey were all transported by ambulance to Brookings ER where 38 year old Hiedei Bailey was pronounced deceased. 47 year old Rebecca Williams had been transported by ambulance to Sutter Coast Hospital and the last information is that she was being flown out to a higher care hospital at an unknown location. Armenta and Bever were stabilized and Bever was expected to be medically released.
Armenta’s vehicle had also destroyed several camping items and picnic tables along with two Recreational Vehicles . One of the Recreational Vehicles had two small children inside and had been moved about fifteen feet. The two children were uninjured. Pastors Mike Quesada and Anthony Darling who volunteer with the Sheriff’s Office arrived and were able to help console family members and friends.
Curry County Deputies along with an Oregon State Trooper processed the scene and Wes’s Towing arrived and removed three vehicles that were damaged including Armenta’s van. The Curry County District Attorney was notified, and Deputies stayed with Armenta at the ER for follow-up investigation. Armenta was then transported to Curry General Hospital for a possible head injury.
The Curry County Sheriff’s Office will continue the investigation and we would like to thank all those who helped in this investigation. We also express are deepest condolences to the family and friends of Hiedei Bailey.
