Head On Crash On Highway 20 Claims Waldport Woman's Life

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 1:16 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 20 near milepost 1, just east of Newport. The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Chrysler Town & County van, operated by 77-year old Rosalea Ann Engelbrecht of Waldport, was traveling westbound on Hwy. 20 near Newport when the van began to veer into the oncoming lane for an unknown reason.

An eastbound gray Toyota Highlander, operated by 82-year old John Sterling Daigle of Newport, attempted to avoid the Chrysler van; however, the van continued across the eastbound lane and collided head-on with the Toyota Highlander. Engelbrecht, the driver of the van was transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital with serious injuries and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The operator of the Toyota, Mr. Daigle was and the 77-year old passenger were both transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital with minor injuries. The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. The Oregon State Police were assisted by the Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Fire Department, Pacific West Ambulance, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.