A Yreka, California, man is dead following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday.

Oregon State Police responded to the crash at 10:56 p.m. near milepost 25 on Interstate 5 between Talent and Phoenix.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound BMW 3S, operated by Justine Castaneda, 20, of Medford, was traveling northbound in the fast lane when a northbound Honda Accord, driven by William Clifton Gann, 45, approached the BMW from behind at a reported high rate of speed, according to a news release. The BMW attempted to move to the slow lane when it was struck by the Honda causing the Honda to roll. Gann, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle.

Gann was declared dead at the scene. Castaneda reportedly suffered minor injuries.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. An Oregon Department of Transportation support vehicle assigned to the scene was struck near Exit 14 on I-5 by a semi-truck, according to ODOT public information officer Julie Denney.

The ODOT vehicle “was parked at the exit with its sign board providing traffic control for the detour because the interstate was closed for the crash investigation,” Denney said in a statement to the Rogue Valley Times. “The two crew members in the vehicle received minor injuries from the crash. They were checked out at the hospital and were fortunately able to go home” Wednesday morning.

OSP did not provide information on the second accident in its release.

“This is just one example of the dangers our maintenance crews face when responding to incidents on the interstate,” Denney said. “Our role is to help provide a safe work zone for our incident response partners and to provide safe traffic control for the traveling public.

“Unfortunately, crashes and near misses are something our crews experience every day when they’re out on the road. We ask people to please stay alert in work zones — slow down, watch for workers, follow traffic control directions, put away distractions and don’t drive while impaired,” she said.

Washington state residents die in Monday crash

Two Washington state residents died Monday afternoon after striking the trailer of a parked semi-truck on I-5 over the Siskiyou Summit.

OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash near milepost 4 around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford F-150, operated by Michael Kevin Kasser, 69, of Issaquah, Wash., left the lane of travel and struck the trailer of a parked Volvo semi-truck occupied by Mohamed A. Baioumy, 62, of Morena Valley, Calif.

Kasser and passenger, Linda Elaine Kasser, 68, of Issaquah, Wash., were declared deceased at the scene.

Baioumy was reportedly not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. 

OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Cal-Fire, Ashland Fire and Rescue, and ODOT during both incidents.