Coos Bay Driver Arrested on Warrant for Manslaughter Following Fatal I-5 Crash Near Goshen



Eugene, Or. - On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 8 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 5 near milepost 186.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white Dodge Caravan, operated by Kennith James Nelsen (56) of Coos Bay, was traveling southbound on I-5 when it attempted to turn into the emergency vehicle turnaround from the slow lane and struck the side of a gray Dodge Charger, operated by Timothy Brian Smith (59) of Springfield. The Charger attempted to avoid the crash by swerving towards the median. The Caravan impacted the Charger while it was in the emergency vehicle turnaround, sending the Charger into the northbound travel lanes of I-5, where it went beneath a white Kenworth dump truck, operated by Jaison William Karow (44) of Coos Bay, towing a loaded trailer.

A passenger in the Dodge Charger, Kenneth Nicholas Thomas (61) of Springfield, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Charger (Smith) was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The operator of the Dodge Caravan (Nelsen) was not injured.

The operator of the dump truck (Karow) was not injured.

Following the initial crash, a secondary collision occurred on the southbound side of I-5 involving three vehicles. No injuries were reported as a result of the secondary crash.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation.

On December 18, 2025, Kennith James Nelsen was arrested by Oregon State Police on a warrant, following a secret grand jury indictment on the 17th, and booked into the Lane County Jail on charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (felony), Recklessly Endangering Another Person (misdemeanor), and Assault in the Fourth Degree (misdemeanor) in conjunction with the July 29, 2025 crash. The associated Lane County Circuit Court case number is 25CR7003.

OSP was assisted by the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Hill Rural Fire Protection District, Eugene Springfield Fire, South Lane Fire and Rescue, Lane County District Attorney’s Office, Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Information from OSP and jail records

Michael Weber, known for his extensive coverage of crime news in Lane County, continues to provide valuable updates to the local community. He runs the largest crime watch group in Lane County, Lane County Mugshots Uncensored, which currently has over 89,100 members. Support for local journalism is essential, and donations can be made via Venmo to @Michael-Weber-379 (last four digits of phone number: 0825).

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