Kailee Coontz, 5, was pronounced dead at the scene. (Photo released by her parents, who survived the crash).

CRESWELL, Ore. - Officers say two people died in a head-on traffic collision on Interstate 5 near Creswell late Wednesday. 

The crash happened at about 8:50 p.m. at milepost 182, about 13 miles south of Eugene.

The preliminary investigation shows that a motorhome driven by 41-year-old Stephen Whitaker of Cottage Grove was traveling northbound on I-5 when, for an unknown reason, the driver lost control, crossed the center median, and struck a southbound Oldsmobile Alero head-on.

A passenger in the motorhome was flown by LifeFlight to a Bend hospital and was later pronounced dead.  His name has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.  Whitaker was transported to a hospital as well for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

A 5-year-old girl, identified as Kailee Coontz, was killed in the crash.  She was a passenger in the car and had been properly seated in a booster seat with a seat belt on as well.  Her parents, 35-year-old Cathleen Coontz and 35-year-old Brian Coontz, survived with minor injuries.  Both had been wearing their seatbelts.  The family is from Springfield.

Both southbound lanes of I-5 were closed for 45 minutes while emergency crews worked at the scene. The left lane was re-opened prior to 10 p.m. while the right southbound lane remained closed until troopers with the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit completed their investigation.