Winston Male Arrested in Fatal Accident, Dec. 13

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.