Missing California couple found safe in Oregon — A couple reported missing after failing to arrive at their daughter’s Redding, Calif., home for Christmas Eve dinner were found safe about 400 miles away in Oregon. The Oregon State Police says the 85-year-old man and 83-year-old woman were found late Christmas night in their car, which ran out of gas on Interstate 5 near Woodburn. Police say the two seemed confused and were taken to Salem Hospital for medical evaluations. The daughter who was hosting the Christmas Eve dinner told police her stepfather was picking up her mother at a care facility, and the drive to her home should have taken about 10 minutes.
U.S. 97 closed at California line after crash, reopened — Oregon State Police closed and later reopened U.S. 97 at the border with California to allow the investigation of a fatal traffic accident in Dorris, Calif., just south of the state line. KFLS in Klamath Falls reported that California authorities asked for the road to be closed. It was reopened about noon Wednesday.
State Police report 3 dead in holiday crashes — The State Police say three people died in Oregon in traffic accidents during the Friday-Tuesday holiday period. They were a 21-year-old Newberg man, who died Friday in a two-car crash on Highway 99E south of Woodburn; a 20-year-old West Linn man, who died Sunday in a collision on Highway 26; and a 44-year-old Portland motorcyclist who died in a collision Monday. Troopers said they arrested 53 people on charges of driving under the influence during the period that started at 6 p.m. Friday — nearly twice as many as during the 2011 Christmas holiday period.
Search for missing Klamath Falls man suspended — After snowfalls that total up to 3 feet, authorities have suspended the search for a missing Klamath Falls man. Searchers said a car belonging to 39-year-old Robert Lear was found near the community of Keno in southern Klamath County. But searchers say they found no trace of him beyond the car. It is believed to have been on a spur road for about two weeks. Searchers said they hadn’t ruled out the possibility he had gotten a ride or hiked out of the area and hadn’t notified anyone of his whereabouts. His family reported Lear missing and said he had been planning to move to the Seattle area.
Officers wound man in Bandon after 911 call — The Coos County district attorney says officers in Bandon wounded a man who had called 911 and later came to the door of his trailer with what appeared to be a rifle. District Attorney Paul Frasier said in a statement the man was hit twice in the arm Tuesday night but refused medical treatment and was arrested on two warrants for earlier misdemeanor charges. Frasier identified the man as Charles Wayne Crum. He said Crum has a history of violence with officers.
2 firefighters taken to hospital after Salem fire — Two firefighters and a passing pedestrian were taken to a hospital after a Christmas Day house fire in Salem. The Statesman Journal reported the passerby saw smoke coming out of the residence and reported the fire. Salem Fire Capt. Paul Telfer says the family who lives in the home was not there at the time of the fire, which appeared to have started in the kitchen. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke. A dog and a cat were rescued without injuries. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and the caller was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation after knocking on the door of the burning house.
Police investigate death in Portland apartment — Police are investigating the suspicious death of a woman in a Southwest Portland apartment. The Oregonian reported officers were called to the home just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. Sgt. Pete Simpson didn’t release any details about who called police or how the woman may have died. But what officers found prompted them to call homicide detectives and forensic evidence specialists. Police closed off the apartment building with crime tape and worked through the night investigating the death, which Simpson is calling suspicious. State medical examiners conducted an autopsy on the body Wednesday. Simpson said no more details will be released until the autopsy is completed.
— From wire reports
