COOS, OR, (April 15, 2026) — An 18-year-old Coquille woman was killed Wednesday afternoon in a wrong-way crash on Highway 101 in Coos County, according to Oregon State Police.
Authorities said a Mercedes-Benz E400 was traveling north in the southbound lane when it avoided a patrol car, struck a guardrail, and then collided head-on with a Mazda3 at about 2:48 p.m. near milepost 260.
Mariah Mayfield, who was driving the Mazda alone, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crashes like this highlight the importance of following traffic laws, as wrong-way driving puts everyone on the road at extreme risk. These incidents can occur due to driver error, distraction, or roadway design issues.
According to the NTSB, as many as 75 percent of wrong-way crashes involve drivers who are under the influence.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all contributing factors that must be thoroughly examined,” said Candice Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“In certain cases, accident reconstruction experts are needed to determine how the crash occurred. These resources are critical in helping victims’ families pursue compensation for their losses,” Bond added.
Pending the investigation, the family of Mariah Mayfield may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim. Families of victims may seek compensation for loss of companionship, emotional suffering, and other damages following a tragic accident.
“The emotional toll after losing a loved one in an accident can be overwhelming,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
“We understand what families must endure, and protecting their rights is essential. A wrongful death attorney will stay informed about the investigation and help ensure their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
(This report is based on verified data - learn more on our About Us page.)
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
If you or a family member were injured or have lost a loved one in an accident and would like the official Accident Report, Bond Legal can offer their assistance.
Personal Injury Lawyers
Bond Legal works with Accident Injury News to provide these news updates because we are passionate about helping victims and their families and hold those who are responsible accountable to make our communities safer. If you would like us to help you and your family, please contact us through one of the methods below.
Hello, I am Candice Bond*, and the law firm of Bond Legal works closely with victims and their families impacted by a variety of accidents and tragedies.
If you or a family member were injured or have lost a loved one in an accident or incident contact us now.
We're available 24/7. Click to chat with a live representative now.
Bond Legal representatives are available 24/7.
866-986-7738
Personal Injury Lawyers
Bond Legal is organized as an LLC in Illinois and as a Professional Corporation in California. Bond Legal LLC lawyers are licensed in AL, AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NM, NC, NY, OH, OK, OR, SC, TN, UT, WI, and WV. Bond Legal PC lawyers are licensed in CA, CO, IA, IL, TX, and WA. Legal services are limited to the foregoing states. *Candice Bond is licensed in CA, IA, IL, TX & WA only and can be contacted at 17500 Red Hill Ave. #100, Irvine, CA 92614, 949-988-7100, cmbond@bondlegalgroup.com. +Client may be responsible for costs and expenses. "Pay $0 Unless We Win For You," refers only to contingent fees charged by the attorney. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. Some cases may be co-counseled with other lawyers. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This is a paid advertisement.
Loading...