Klamath County Crash Kills Bend Man on HWY 31
One dead, one seriously injured after pickup rolls off roadway Sunday morning
1/5/26, 6:22pm: Article is updated reflect the passenger of Dodge, Randy Laverne Samples of Bend, was declared deceased at the scene. The vehicle operator, Roland Lea Buckman, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. — One person was killed and another seriously injured following a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Highway 31 in Klamath County, according to Oregon State Police.
OSP reported that troopers responded to the crash at approximately 10:07 a.m. on January 4, 2026, near milepost 12. The preliminary investigation found that a southbound Dodge Ram 1500 passed another vehicle in a designated passing lane before the driver lost control and slid off the roadway.
Investigators said the truck’s driver-side tires caught in a ditch, causing the vehicle to roll, go airborne, and come to rest in a tree.
The passenger, identified as Randy Laverne Samples, 62, of Bend, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A driver in the vehicle, Roland Lea Buckman, 56, also of Bend, suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Highway 31 was impacted for approximately three hours while crews conducted the on-scene investigation. OSP said roadway conditions and speed are considered primary contributing factors in the crash.
The investigation was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
