Coos County, Oregon – A tragic head-on collision on Friday, April 18, 2025, claimed the lives of an Umpqua Community College softball player and coach, leading to the arrest of the man accused of causing the crash. Johnathan James Dowdy, 34, was booked into the Coos County Jail on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree manslaughter and several counts of assault and reckless endangerment.
According to the Oregon State Police (OSP), Dowdy’s vehicle struck a bus carrying members of the Umpqua Community College softball team. The collision, which occurred on a rural stretch of highway, resulted in the deaths of a team player and a coach. Several other individuals sustained injuries, though the full extent of their injuries remains unclear as investigations continue.
Dowdy, who was arrested on Monday, April 21, after being released from RiverBend Hospital, faces a series of serious charges. In addition to manslaughter, he is charged with three counts of second-degree assault, five counts of third-degree assault, and fourteen counts of reckless endangerment. Dowdy is also facing charges of aggravated driving while suspended or revoked, driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), reckless driving, and several related offenses.
The Oregon State Police have confirmed that Dowdy’s prior criminal history includes multiple charges related to driving offenses, such as operating a vehicle without driving privileges and driving uninsured. He also has two open cases for DUII and related offenses from earlier this year, one in March and the other in April.
The crash occurred as the Umpqua Community College softball team was en route to a scheduled game. The impact of the collision has left the local community in shock, with many mourning the loss of the player and coach. Family, friends, and teammates have expressed their grief over social media, sharing fond memories of the victims and highlighting their contributions to the team and the college.
As of now, the investigation into the incident is ongoing, with Oregon State Police continuing to gather evidence and details surrounding the events that led to the crash. Authorities have not yet released additional information on the condition of the other passengers involved in the collision.
Dowdy is expected to appear in court in the coming days to answer to the charges against him.