MEDFORD, OR — "Yay... not going to die any time soon!!!" Richard Cota of Bonanza appears to have written those words on his Facebook page moments before fatally colliding head-on into another driver on a rural Oregon highway early Thursday evening. Cota's wife, Amanda, was also in the car at the time of the crash.

Now both Amanda Cota and Klamath Falls resident Frederick French are being treated for injuries at two different Southern Oregon hospitals, and Richard Cota is dead. He was 37 years old. The crash reportedly occurred along Highway 140, near milepost 14, about 22 miles east of Medford. Oregon State troopers were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash around 5 p.m. Oct. 4.

According to OSP crash investigators, the Cotas were traveling east toward Klamath Falls and their hometown of Bonanza in a Dodge Neon. Richard, the driver, was reportedly passing other eastbound vehicles at a high rate of speed while in the westbound lane — and while in a no-passing zone. Heading west, Frederick French, 52, was traveling in his Ford F-350 pickup.

As they approached each other, both Richard and French attempted to swerve onto the shoulder and out of the way. However, they both swerved in the same direction and ultimately met head on. Richard died at the scene, investigators said. Amanda, 33, was taken to Providence Medical Center in Medford; French was taken to Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Based on their apparent Facebook profiles, it appears the Cotas have two daughters. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Oregon Patch)

