A tragic collision on Highway 99 S in Lane County has led to the death of a Creswell man, as reported by a local news outlet. The incident, which involved a Kenworth log truck and a Toyota Matrix, occurred on the afternoon of Monday.
Oregon State Police have released details regarding the fatal crash, which happened near milepost 1.5 when the log truck, operated by 52-year-old Christian James Gossett of Cottage Grove, was attempting to make a left turn. The Toyota Matrix, driven by 29-year-old Josef Alexander Ward of Creswell, was also traveling southbound and collided with the rear end of the log truck. According to the preliminary investigation, Gossett was uninjured in the encounter, while Ward suffered critical injuries and was quickly transported to a nearby hospital. He was later pronounced deceased.
The collision resulted in Highway 99 S being closed for an estimated 2.5 hours, affecting traffic and necessitating detours during the crash investigation. The reason for the crash is under investigation, with the Oregon State Police spearheading the efforts, supported by aid from the Lane County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
