January 31, 2024 2:20 p.m. 

A Winston man and a Cottage Grove woman died in a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday.

An Oregon State Police report said just after 1:20 p.m. troopers responded to the accident on Highway 42 and Rolling Hills Road.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a tanker truck was pulling into the center turn lane to merge onto the highway to travel eastbound.  A Jeep operated by 19-year old Bronwyn Gnagy of Winston was traveling eastbound and abruptly stopped in the left lane as the tanker merged into the center turn lane.

A log truck, operated by a Roseburg man, was traveling behind the Jeep. The operator braked but was unable to stop in time and struck the Jeep from behind. The Jeep sustained heavy rear end damage.

The passengers in the Jeep, 20-year old Brandon Gobershock, and 31-year old Tabitha Romans were both pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was transported to CHI Mercy Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The operator of the truck was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately five hours. OSP was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and the Oregon Department of Transportation.