GOLD BEACH, Ore. – A 58-year old Brookings man died Wednesday night when he lost control of his car on ice-covered US 101 south of Gold Beach, slid sideways into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck an SUV, troopers reported.

Lesile P. Salgado’s 1996 BMW lost traction about 8:35 p.m., March 26, as he traveled south on the highway near milepost 334 and was pronounced dead at the scene, Oregon State Police (OSP) Sgt. Scott Punch said.

Salgado’s car struck a 1998 Dodge Durango driven by Melisa Vaught, 25, of Cave Junction. Vaught and her seven-year-old son, Gage, escaped injury.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that excessive speed for conditions was a factor in the collision,” the sergeant said.

Curry County Sheriff’s deputies, Gold Beach Fire Department personnel, and Cal-Or Ambulance/Life Flight assisted on scene. Troopers from the Gold Beach office are completing the investigation.