Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into the cause of Sunday night’s multi-vehicle traffic crash along the northbound shoulder of Interstate 5 about eight miles south of Canyonville in Douglas County. The crash resulted in the death of a roadside assistance mechanic and a passenger in a commercial truck. On March 2, 2014 at approximately 11:00 p.m., a disabled commercial truck pulling a semi-trailer was parked on the right northbound shoulder of Interstate 5 near milepost 90. WILLIAM MARION STEINBROOK, age 54, from Yoncalla, who was a roadside assistance mechanic, was standing between the disabled commercial truck and the roadside assistance vehicle, a 1999 Ford F350 truck. A 2013 International truck pulling an “Auto Zone” semi-trailer driven by WILLIAM DEAN PENICKS, age 56, from Norco, California, was northbound cresting a hill in the right lane. For an unconfirmed reason, the truck crossed the fog line and crashed into the back of the stopped semi-trailer. The impact pushed the disabled truck and trailer forward, pinning STEINBROOK between the truck and roadside assistance vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 43-year old male passenger in the International truck, ADAM WADE PENNINGTON from Hemet, California, was in the sleeper berth and also pronounced deceased. PENICKS was transported by Glendale Ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg for treatment of injuries believed non-life threatening. The driver of the disabled truck was outside of the vehicle and not injured. OSP troopers from the Roseburg Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Trooper Joe Feland is the lead investigator. OSP was assisted at the scene by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, South Umpqua Fire Department, Azalea Rural Fire District, ODOT, and hazardous materials clean up personnel. A diesel spill was reported at the scene. The northbound lanes were briefly closed and then open to one lane.
