May 16, 2024 4:00 a.m.

A Myrtle Creek woman died in a Lane County highway crash on Tuesday.

A report from Oregon State Police said just before 2:15 p.m., troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 126, just 1.5 miles east of Florence.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a westbound SUV, operated by 46-year-old Katherine Horath of Myrtle Creek, crossed into the eastbound lane for unknown reasons and struck a second SUV, driven by a Eugene resident, head-on.

A passenger in the first vehicle, 30-year-old Reania Danielle Horath, was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of that vehicle, and two other passengers, were all transported to a local medical center for treatment of injuries.

The operator of the second vehicle and a passenger were also transported to a local medical center.

The highway was impacted for approximately 4 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Florence Police Department, Siuslaw Valley Fire, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.