Document text
Woman found dead at bottom of cliff in Cape Arago State Park By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Dec 07, 2022 05:35 PM A A A woman who apparently drove off a 100-foot embankment at Cape Arago State Park in Coos County was found dead Sunday by Oregon State Police, but police don’t know when she crashed. At approximately 10:59 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 4, OSP responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on Highway 540, Cape Arago Highway, near milepost 12.9, according to a news advisory from OSP. The preliminary investigation indicated that on an unknown date and time, an eastbound Honda Civic operated by Wendy Haumea Smith, 45, of Coos County, crossed the westbound lane of travel onto the earthen shoulder and plummeted more than 100 feet down a cliff and came “to an uncontrolled rest against a tree.” Smith, who had been reported missing to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 6, was found a short distance from the vehicle deceased. Scene evidence indicated Smith survived the crash, extricated herself from the vehicle, collected some belongings and moved a short distance from the vehicle. It is currently undetermined whether Smith died as a result of injuries related to the crash or other causes, OSP said. State parks officials closed access to the last section of the park during the investigation, and recovery efforts were underway. OSP was assisted by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston Fire, North Bend Fire and Oregon State Parks.