Road Rage Leads To One Man's Death, Sheriff Says

WESTPORT, OR — One man is dead and another in jail following what law enforcement described as "a deadly road rage incident" near Westport in Clatsop County Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffrey Craig Stone, 65, of Westport, is currently being held in Clatsop County Jail. He is charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), hit and run, reckless driving, and manslaughter. Stone is accused of hitting, dragging, and ultimately killing with his truck 22-year-old Curtis Michael Russell of Longview, Washington.

Clatsop County deputies were dispatched to Old Mill Town Road in Westport just before 4:15 p.m. Oct. 31 after receiving 911 calls reporting a man was intentionally struck by another driver who then fled the area. When deputies arrived at the scene near the Chevron station along Columbia River Highway, they found Russell lying motionless on Old Mill Town Road, roughly 1,300 feet from where his car was left by the highway intersection.

Three people were reportedly still in Russell's car when police arrived. None of the passengers were injured, officials said.

As deputies began searching for the suspect vehicle, Stone reportedly returned to the area in his gray 2008 Dodge Dakota, which witnesses said was the truck that killed Russell. Stone told deputies he was driving when Russell was hit and volunteered to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, officials said, noting the passenger in Stone's truck was also uninjured.

Based on information obtained so far, sheriff's officials reportedly believe Stone and Russell were passing each other repeatedly as they traveled west on Highway 30. When the two vehicles neared the aforementioned intersection, Stone turned onto Old Mill Town Road and Russell followed, passing him one last time before coming to a stop in the middle of the roadway, officials said.

Russell then reportedly got out of his car armed with a baseball bat and began walking back toward Stone's truck. In response, Stone reversed and then lurched forward around Russell's car, hitting Russell in the process before dragging him roughly 1,300 feet to where deputies later found him lying in the road.

Stone and Russell were unknown to each other prior to this incident, officials said.

Court records show Stone was previously convicted for DUII in 2009. According to court filings, he participated in a diversion class to have the misdemeanor dismissed in 2010.

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Images via Clatsop County Sheriff's Office