According to Oregon State Police, a single-vehicle crash just east of Oakridge claimed the lives of two young women in the early hours of February 8.
Troopers were called out around 1:30 a.m. to milepost 40, where an eastbound Toyota Tacoma had left the roadway and slammed head-on into a tree. The driver, 25-year-old Anais Spring Rowell of Oakridge, and her passenger, 24-year-old Malia Kana Malo, also of Oakridge, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say neither woman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. What caused the vehicle to leave the roadway is still unknown.
Despite the severity of the crash, traffic on Highway 58 wasn’t impacted while crews worked the scene. Oregon State Police were assisted by Oakridge Fire and ODOT.
It’s another heartbreaking reminder of how quickly things can change on Oregon’s highways — especially late at night on familiar roads close to home.
