23 October, 2014
Construction Crash Closes Highway, 1 Dies.
A Florence man was killed and Highway 101 at the McCulloch Bridge in North Bend will remain closed through late Friday following a construction accident Wednesday night.
The body of 52-year old Mark Fortune was recovered from the waters of Coos Bay by the Coast Guard following the accident.
Nobody witnessed what happened, but authorities say Fortune’s truck apparently broke through a railing and plunged into the water below. Fellow workers saw the truck in the water and could not account for Fortune was working as a mechanic for the bridge contractor.
The Oregon Department of Transportation and State Police are continuing the investigation … and ODOT personnel are inspecting the span to ensure that it is safe.
Until then, all large truck traffic is being detoured through the Interstate Five corridor… light trucks and passenger cars are using East Bay Road.
