TYEE, Ore. – A single-vehicle rollover crash on remote timberland near the unincorporated community of Tyee has left a Drain couple dead, with authorities indicating that alcohol may have been a contributing factor.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the crash was reported around 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, although evidence suggests it likely occurred earlier that morning. A hunter scouting the area west of Tyee spotted what appeared to be two deceased individuals and used satellite-assisted Text-to-911 to alert emergency responders.
Deputies responded to the area on Weyerhaeuser timber property and discovered tire tracks and debris on a Bureau of Land Management roadway. Following the marks down a steep embankment, they located a 1986 Suzuki Samurai that had rolled approximately 500 feet before coming to rest in a ravine.
The victims, identified as 55-year-old Anthony W. Forbes and 50-year-old Mandi S. Forbes, were found about 215 feet from the roadway. Investigators believe both were ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Neither was wearing a seat belt, according to officials.
Emergency crews used ropes to descend the steep slope and recover the bodies. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the couple had a valid permit to be on Weyerhaeuser property at the time of the crash.
Authorities say evidence at the scene suggests alcohol may have played a role in the incident. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.
