OSP releases names in Hwy. 20 crash that killed 2

(Update: OSP releases names details of crash)

A Bend man and a Eugene woman were killed and two other people were injured, one critically, in a multiple-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on U.S. Highway 20 near the entrance to Black Butte Ranch, Oregon State Police reported Monday.

OSP and emergency workers responded to the crash around 3 p.m. Sunday, OSP Lt. Cari Boyd said. The crash and investigation closed or limited traffic at the scene for about six hours.

The initial investigation found that Ethan Moreschi, 28, of Bend, was heading east on the highway near milepost 93 at the wheel of a 1996 Subaru Legacy when it crossed the center line and struck an oncoming 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by Katherine Sales, 80, of Eugene. Both drivers died at the scene, Boyd said.

Meanwhile, a westbound 2004 motor home driven by Robert Lounsbury, 49, of North Bend was towing a 2015 Chevy Tahoe. Boyd said the motor home driver tried to avoid the first collision and hit an eastbound 1998 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Timothy R. Thompson, 28, of Newberg.

Thompson was flown to St. Charles Bend with critical, life-threatening injuries, Boyd said, while Lounsbury was taken by ambulance to the Bend hospital with minor injuries. Lounsbury’s passenger, Tammy Lounsbury, 53, also of North Bend, was not injured in the crash, Boyd said.

Moreschi and Thompson knew each other, the OSP lieutenant said, and it’s believed they were with each other shortly before the crash.

Impairment by controlled substances is being considered as a contributing factor for Thompson and has yet to be determined for Moreschi, Boyd said.

OSP was assisted at the scene by ODOT, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Black Butte Ranch Police Department.