August 25, 2026 9:20 a.m. 

An Oakland teen died and six people were injured in a head-on crash near Scottsburg on Friday afternoon.

An Oregon State Police report released on Tuesday said just before 1:40 p.m. troopers responded to the wreck on Highway 38 near milepost 27.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a pickup towing a 17-foot boat, operated by 63-year-old Jason Dean Paden of Portland, was eastbound on the highway when it left its lane of travel, crossed the centerline, and struck another pickup, operated by 56-year-old William Everett Ratledge, which was westbound.

Paden was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Two passengers in the pickup, including a fourteen-year-old female, were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Ratledge was transported by Life Flight to a local hospital. Two juvenile males were transported to a local hospital with injuries, while a thirteen-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Highway 38 was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Lower Umpqua Ambulance, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Elkton Fire and Rescue, Scottsburg Fire and Rescue and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who may have observed the first pickup and boat prior to the crash is asked to contact OSP dispatch at 800-442-0776.