Two Oakridge residents killed in single-vehicle Highway 58 crash

Two Oakridge residents were killed early Sunday when their pickup left the roadway on Highway 58 and struck a tree near milepost 40, the Oregon State Police said. Troopers responded at 1:29 a.m. and first responders declared both occupants dead at the scene.

The driver was identified as Anais Spring Rowell, 25, of Oakridge. The passenger was Malia Kana Malo, 24, of Oakridge. OSP said the eastbound Toyota Tacoma “left the roadway for unknown reasons” and struck a tree head-on. The agency added, “Neither occupant were wearing a seatbelt.” Oakridge Fire units and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted troopers at the scene. Authorities reported the highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

Malo’s family posted a GoFundMe message that described her as “a caring, beautiful, artistic soul that didn't deserve to leave this world so soon,” and added, “The loss of her will never be able to be replaced.” Officials have not released additional family or funeral arrangements.

OSP described the crash sequence as preliminary and said the reason the vehicle left the roadway remains under investigation. The department has not indicated whether the Collision Reconstruction Unit was deployed for this incident, nor have investigators released any toxicology, mechanical or impairment results. No arrests or charges have been announced.

The crash adds to a string of serious single-vehicle incidents on this stretch of Highway 58 in recent months. OSP previously responded to a fatal crash near milepost 40 on Jan. 12 in which a Ford F-250 rolled and the operator, 64-year-old Aaron Henry Longton of Port Orford, died after being transported to a hospital. OSP also responded in December to a separate single-vehicle crash near milepost 51 that resulted in one death and multiple serious injuries. Those prior incidents, like Sunday’s crash, involved vehicles leaving the travel lane for reasons that were not immediately determined.

For Lane County residents and drivers who use Highway 58, the sequence of crashes underscores ongoing safety concerns on a corridor used by commuters, freight and recreation travelers heading to the Cascades. Local emergency agencies continue to stress standard precautions; investigators plan to release more information as it becomes available.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the Feb. 8 crash to contact the Oregon State Police. The investigation will determine whether additional factors such as vehicle condition, road surface, visibility or impairment contributed to the collision. In the meantime, the community of Oakridge is left to mourn two neighbors lost in a single overnight crash, and officials say updates will follow as the inquiry progresses.