Amber Damm-Winningham Killed in Car Accident in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, OR — March 10, 2025, One person was injured following a car accident that occurred Monday afternoon on Highway 34.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead during the afternoon hours hours of March 10th. According to official reports, a Honda Civic operated by Amber Damm-Winningham was travelling on Highway 34 near Yates Road in the when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and left the roadway and crashed into a creek.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Damm-Winningham had sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that the person involved deserves clear answers about what happened. A vehicle losing control, leaving the roadway, and crashing into a creek is not something that happens without a cause. While authorities continue their investigation, three key questions must be addressed to fully understand what led to this accident.

First, did law enforcement conduct a thorough investigation? In single-vehicle crashes, it’s common to assume driver error, but a complete investigation should consider all possible contributing factors. Were road conditions, weather, or visibility issues involved? Were there skid marks or other signs indicating an attempt to correct the vehicle’s path? Did any witnesses see the vehicle before it left the roadway? A full accident reconstruction can help clarify whether external factors played a role.

Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect contributed to the crash? While many assume that loss of control is due to driver input, mechanical failures—such as brake malfunctions, steering issues, or tire blowouts—can also cause a vehicle to leave the roadway. Modern vehicles like the Honda Civic are equipped with stability control systems designed to help prevent such incidents, so it’s worth asking whether these systems functioned as intended. Unfortunately, unless someone ensures the vehicle is thoroughly examined before it is scrapped or repaired, potential defects may go unnoticed.

Finally, has all available electronic data been preserved? The vehicle’s electronic control module (ECM) may contain key crash-related data, such as speed, braking activity, and steering inputs leading up to the crash. Investigators should also check whether any nearby traffic or security cameras captured footage of the incident. Another often-overlooked source of evidence is cell phone data—was the driver using their phone at the time? Preserving these digital records can be essential in understanding the full circumstances of the crash.

At the end of the day, crashes like this leave many unanswered questions. Understanding why the vehicle lost control and whether any contributing factors, such as road conditions or mechanical issues, played a role is essential. A thorough investigation is necessary to ensure that no potential piece of evidence is overlooked in the search for the truth.