Oregon College Softball Crash Kills Player, Coach \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A devastating crash in Oregon has killed Umpqua Community College softball player Kiley Jones and head coach Jami Strinz. A pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with the team’s van. The tragedy occurred as the team traveled home from a game.
Quick Looks
- Two fatalities: Coach Jami Strinz and freshman player Kiley Jones
- Crash site: Coos County, Oregon, late Friday night
- Cause: Pickup truck crossed center line, hitting team’s van head-on
- Van passengers: 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team
- Kiley Jones: 19, first baseman from Nampa, Idaho
- Jami Strinz: 46, head coach, pronounced dead at hospital
- Team was returning from game in Coos Bay
- School statement: UCC President mourns loss and offers condolences
- Investigation ongoing by Oregon State Police
- Community in mourning over loss of beloved student and coach
Deep Look
A journey home after a game turned into unimaginable tragedy for Umpqua Community College’s softball team Friday night when a head-on collision claimed the lives of head coach Jami Strinz, 46, and 19-year-old freshman player Kiley Jones.
The crash unfolded in Coos County, Oregon, as the team was traveling back to campus following a game in Coos Bay. According to the Oregon State Police, a pickup truck veered across the center line, slamming into the van carrying 10 members of the women’s team. The devastating crash has left a hole in a tight-knit athletic community and a state reeling from grief.
A Coach Remembered for Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance
Jami Strinz wasn’t just the driver of the vehicle that tragic evening—she was the heart of the team. A seasoned coach with decades of experience and a reputation for mentoring student-athletes on and off the field, Strinz served as the head coach of Umpqua’s softball team. Her coaching philosophy centered around discipline, empathy, and developing not just athletes but well-rounded young women.
She was described as “the rock of our program,” “a leader who never gave up on anyone,” and someone who “lived and breathed the game.”
Strinz was taken to a local hospital following the crash but succumbed to her injuries soon after. The loss of her leadership will be felt not just in the dugout, but in every corner of campus where her presence loomed large.
A Young Life with So Much Promise
Kiley Jones, 19, a freshman first baseman from Nampa, Idaho, was pronounced dead at the scene. She had joined the UCC Riverhawks earlier this season with dreams of pursuing college athletics while studying full-time.
Teammates say she was quick to laugh, endlessly supportive, and incredibly hardworking—already carving out a spot in the team’s starting lineup and the hearts of those around her.
“She played like a veteran, but had the joy and spirit of someone just discovering the game she loved,” said one teammate through tears.
Her death has not only shattered her teammates, but also a family and hometown that rallied behind her success.
A Sudden Crash and a Community in Shock
The Oregon State Police said the crash occurred around 9:00 p.m. on a rural highway. The van, a Chevrolet Express, was transporting players and staff when a pickup traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center divide. The vehicles collided head-on, leaving multiple injuries and two fatalities.
First responders described the scene as “catastrophic,” with several passengers needing medical evaluation. Authorities have not yet released the identity or condition of the pickup driver. The investigation remains ongoing, and it’s unclear if alcohol, fatigue, weather, or speed were contributing factors.
What is known is that a routine drive home ended in disaster.
Official Response and Mourning Across Oregon
Umpqua Community College President Rachel Pokrandt released an emotional statement confirming the deaths and acknowledging the community-wide loss:
“These individuals were cherished members of our campus — an exceptional student-athlete and a passionate and talented coach. Our entire community is grieving this tragic loss, and our heartfelt condolences are with their families, teammates, and loved ones.”
The college canceled all athletic events for the coming week and announced plans to hold a campus vigil in honor of the victims. Flags have been lowered to half-staff, and grief counselors were made available to students and staff by Saturday morning.
Teammates: “We’re Still in Shock”
For the other players on the team—many of them still teenagers—grief is mixed with shock. Several of them were on board the van at the time of the crash and are now grappling with the loss of their teammate and coach, along with the trauma of surviving a deadly crash.
“It all happened so fast,” one student said. “One moment we were laughing about the game, and the next everything went black.”
Families of the players have been flooding in from across Oregon and Idaho to bring their children home and provide support. The sense of shared loss is palpable, not only among teammates but in the entire small-town community.
Remembering and Rebuilding
Tributes began pouring in from athletic programs across the Northwest, including from rival teams and the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), which governs junior college sports in the region. Schools changed their social media profiles to feature Umpqua’s logo, and many have scheduled moments of silence before games.
A growing number of supporters have asked that the upcoming softball season be played in honor of Jami and Kiley. The UCC athletic department is considering options and says decisions about the remainder of the season will be made with input from the players and families.
A Legacy Beyond the Field
Jami Strinz’s coaching resume included not only game wins and playoff appearances, but countless testimonials from former players whose lives were shaped by her guidance. She’s remembered for opening her home to homesick freshmen, advocating for mental health resources, and showing up early to morning practices no matter the weather.
Kiley Jones may have only played one season in college, but her energy, kindness, and commitment to the team left a lasting impression. Her high school in Nampa has announced plans for a memorial tribute and scholarship fund in her name.
Moving Forward with Love and Loss
As Oregon mourns this tragedy, the broader conversation turns to highway safety, team travel protocols, and how institutions can protect their student-athletes. But for now, the focus remains on healing.
“We are heartbroken, but we are not broken,” said one parent. “Jami and Kiley wouldn’t want that.”
Umpqua Community College, nestled along the scenic North Umpqua River, now carries the sorrow of a team that lost far more than a game.
And the names Jami Strinz and Kiley Jones will be remembered not just for how they died—but for how they lived.
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