Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office

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News Release

Winston Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal Vehicle Crash (Photo) - 12/11/21

UPDATE 12/11/2021 11:30 pm

WINSTON, Ore. - A Winston man has been arrested on charges related to the fatal vehicle crash that occurred on Willis Creek Road on Thursday, December 9, 2021. 

Preliminary indications were that Samantha Star Cole was the only occupant of the vehicle and was believed to be the driver. However, while conducting the follow up investigation, deputies and detectives received information that 32-year-old Andrew James Lott of Winston, may have been in the vehicle at the time of the crash. 

On Friday, December 10, 2021, detectives located and interviewed Lott at a residence on Willis Creek Road. During the interview, Lott admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, while Cole was a passenger. Lott stated he and Cole were involved in a disturbance when he took his hands off the steering wheel and reached over into the passenger compartment grabbing onto Cole. 

The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Lott stated he crawled out of the vehicle and knew Cole was injured. Lott made no efforts to summon emergency help and hid nearby. 

Lott was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges: 

  • Criminally Negligent Homicide
  • Fail to Perform the Duties of a Driver to an Injured Person

Lott was also lodged on an outstanding arrest warrant from another state.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing case #21-5473.

###

ORIGINAL RELEASE 12/09/2021 5:00 pm

WINSTON, Ore. - A Roseburg woman died this morning in a single vehicle crash on Willis Creek Road near Winston. 

On Thursday, December 9, 2021, shortly after 8:00 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a single vehicle crash in the 3400-block of Willis Creek Road. 

Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2000 GMC Envoy approximately 10' off of the eastbound shoulder. Fire and EMS on scene determined the female driver, 23-year-old Roseburg resident Samantha Star Cole, had died at the scene. 

Deputies determined Cole had been traveling northbound on Willis Creek Road, when for an unknown reason, the vehicle went off of the roadway striking a tree. 

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing case #21-5473.  

Next of kin has been notified.

Media Advisory

In their 2021 Regular Session, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed Oregon House Bill 3273, which will prohibit law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photos, except in specified circumstances. Governor Brown signed HB 3273 into law on June 23, 2021, with an effective date of January 1, 2022.  In compliance with the law, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will no longer make available booking photos on the Public Jail Viewer Site or release them as part of press release publications, except in the manner allowable under applicable Oregon law after December 31, 2021. To read the enrolled House Bill, please follow this link: Oregon HB 3273

Attached Media Files: Andrew Lott,

Winston Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal Vehicle Crash (Photo) - 12/11/21

UPDATE 12/11/2021 11:30 pm

WINSTON, Ore. - A Winston man has been arrested on charges related to the fatal vehicle crash that occurred on Willis Creek Road on Thursday, December 9, 2021. 

Preliminary indications were that Samantha Star Cole was the only occupant of the vehicle and was believed to be the driver. However, while conducting the follow up investigation, deputies and detectives received information that 32-year-old Andrew James Lott of Winston, may have been in the vehicle at the time of the crash. 

On Friday, December 10, 2021, detectives located and interviewed Lott at a residence on Willis Creek Road. During the interview, Lott admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, while Cole was a passenger. Lott stated he and Cole were involved in a disturbance when he took his hands off the steering wheel and reached over into the passenger compartment grabbing onto Cole. 

The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Lott stated he crawled out of the vehicle and knew Cole was injured. Lott made no efforts to summon emergency help and hid nearby. 

Lott was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges: 

  • Criminally Negligent Homicide
  • Fail to Perform the Duties of a Driver to an Injured Person

Lott was also lodged on an outstanding arrest warrant from another state.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing case #21-5473.

###

ORIGINAL RELEASE 12/09/2021 5:00 pm

WINSTON, Ore. - A Roseburg woman died this morning in a single vehicle crash on Willis Creek Road near Winston. 

On Thursday, December 9, 2021, shortly after 8:00 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a single vehicle crash in the 3400-block of Willis Creek Road. 

Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2000 GMC Envoy approximately 10' off of the eastbound shoulder. Fire and EMS on scene determined the female driver, 23-year-old Roseburg resident Samantha Star Cole, had died at the scene. 

Deputies determined Cole had been traveling northbound on Willis Creek Road, when for an unknown reason, the vehicle went off of the roadway striking a tree. 

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing case #21-5473.  

Next of kin has been notified.

Media Advisory

In their 2021 Regular Session, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed Oregon House Bill 3273, which will prohibit law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photos, except in specified circumstances. Governor Brown signed HB 3273 into law on June 23, 2021, with an effective date of January 1, 2022.  In compliance with the law, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will no longer make available booking photos on the Public Jail Viewer Site or release them as part of press release publications, except in the manner allowable under applicable Oregon law after December 31, 2021. To read the enrolled House Bill, please follow this link: Oregon HB 3273

Attached Media Files: Andrew Lott,