Myrtle Creek man killed after log truck crashes
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- Emergency crews were called to the scene of a log truck accident just after 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
The sheriff's office has confirmed that Michael Scott Ray, 47, of Myrtle Creek was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The accident was reported to be near Coos Bay Wagon Road near the Iverson Memorial County Park in the Tenmile area.
The truck left the roadway and went down an embankment, ending up landing on a road below. Authorities say Ray was thrown from the truck.
Sheriff's deputies at the scene said speed was a factor in the crash. "It's very important on windy, curvy roads that people take caution, they slow down, and obviously remember that brakes heat up, and if brakes heat up you lose your braking distance," said Sgt. Clayton Ruble from the Sheriff's office. "So you need to be really careful as you go down a windy hill and know that your brakes are going to heat up and as they heat up, you're going to lose your stopping distance."
Tenmile Fire, Douglas County Sheriff's deputies and BLM personnel all responded to the scene.
The road was closed for several hours as crews removed debris from the scene.
Every log truck I have ever seen on back roads was SPEEDING ,taking up the whole road and being a danger to anyone around the next bend.
 @JouThePlumber How do you know that all these trucks are speeding? Do you have a radar? Do you realize how big these trucks are and how big of a load they are hauling? They NEED to take up a lot of the road, other cars need to take CAUTION when driving these roads and give  trucks the space they need. These trucks DO NOT stop on a dime.
All it takes is one log to shift on their load to cause and accident, at no fault of the driver. These log truck drivers are extremely skilled and I think you should give them some respect for what they do and have to deal with day in and out!
My thoughts and prayers go out to Michael's Family and Friends, I'm sorry for your loss.
For those that don't know, the Jake brake is a compression brake, basically slowing down the vehicle without the truck having to use his brakes. They are a little noisy, but they help stop things like this. People who move out to the wooded areas need to realize the noise may annoy them, but it also helps save lives.
And thats why they NEED to use their Jake Brakes...as it saves their brakes!!!
 @NativeCB since you have CB at the end of name it is probably time to bring up CB radio's and logging roads.  Folks should at minimum carry a hand held CB, better yet a real one.  Check for CB channel signs at bottom of haul roads. Learn how to use a CB if one drives logging roads.