Linn County Undersheriff Paul Timm reports last night at 11:29 p.m., his deputies investigated a fatal motor vehicle crash on Rock Hill Drive, west of Lebanon. 

Deputies were driving by the location when they saw a vehicle pulled over with its hazard lights on and a female standing outside.  They stopped to assist, and the female stated her boyfriend, 27-year-old, Steven Marlen of Lebanon, and her brother, 20-year-old Jacob Wibbens of Brownsville were overdue and not answering their phones.  She used a cell phone locator application for Marlen’s phone that brought her to the Rock Hill Drive location.  She told deputies Marlen was driving a red Toyota MR2.

The deputies were not able to immediately see the crashed vehicle, but after a few minutes of searching, discovered it about fifty yards off the roadway in blackberry bushes.  Medics from Lebanon Fire Department were requested to respond.  The deputies found the vehicle was upside down on its top and discovered Marlen and Wibbens were deceased inside. 

The investigation revealed Marlen was travelling westbound on Rock Hill Drive when his vehicle drove off the shoulder and lost control.  The vehicle rolled several times coming to rest on its roof. 

Both Marlen and Wibbens were wearing their seatbelts.  Lebanon Fire Department personnel had to extricate both males from the vehicle.  Huston-Jost Funeral Home assisted and transported them to their facility.

It is unknown what caused Marlen to drive off the roadway.  Speed may have been a factor in the crash.  No other vehicles were involved.