Driver dies in three-vehicle collision.

Byline: The Register-Guard

SAGINAW - One person died and four were injured Tuesday evening in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 that closed both southbound lanes for more than two hours north of Cottage Grove.

Another crash in the highway's northbound lanes briefly caused the full closure of the interstate.

About 5:15 p.m., a green Ford Taurus with two people was going northbound, approaching the Saginaw exit, when it crossed the median into the southbound lanes, according to the Oregon State Police. A Nissan pickup hit the driver's side of the Taurus and a third vehicle collided with both.

The driver of the green Taurus, Joel Culy, 20, of Days Creek, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Troopers reported that his driving privileges were currently suspended.

Three other people in the Taurus received non-life threatening, serious injuries. Police identified them as Jennifer J. Lee, 26; the victim's mother, Cindy Lee Culy, 54; and, Bill Potter, 46. All are from Days Creek. They were transported to Sacred Heart.

Police had not yet determined who was wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the Nissan pickup, James Hendrix, 25, of Roseburg, was transported to Sacred Heart with minor injuries. No one was reported injured in the third vehicle.

Both southbound lanes were closed until 7:40 p.m., when the right lane was reopened.

State troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

State Department of Transportation and local emergency workers assisted at the scene.

Shortly after this crash, a second crash involving three to four vehicles occurred in the northbound lanes.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office responded and is handling that investigation.