The sons of a Warren County sheriff’s deputy died early this morning in separate auto accidents, which happened less than five miles and 20 minutes apart.

It’s not known where the brothers, the children of Andy McDowell and Rose Marie McDowell, were going. Both brothers lived with their father on Garrett Hollow Road.

Rory D. McDowell, 23, died following an accident in the 1200 block of Plum Springs Road. The accident occurred at 1:23 a.m. today.

Rory McDowell had traveled around a curve heading north on Plum Springs Road when the pick-up truck he was driving went off the left shoulder of the road, according to a Warren County Sheriff’s Department report.

After leaving the road, he overcorrected the vehicle, and it to went into a sideways skid. The vehicle then crossed the road and struck a tree, according to the report.

He was not wearing a seat belt, the report said. The sheriff’s department is still investigating.

Cory McDowell, 21, was traveling west on Ky. 526 at 1:42 a.m. today when the 1984 Porsche he was driving veered off the left side of the road, causing it to go into a 180-degree spin, according to a report from Kentucky State Police Post 3 in Bowling Green.

The vehicle then struck a tree and caught fire, according to the state police report.

Rory McDowell was pronounced dead at the scene by the Warren County Coroner’s Office at 2 a.m.

Cory McDowell was also pronounced dead at the accident location at 1:48 a.m. by Deputy Coroner Dwayne Lawrence.

Andy McDowell’s co-workers talked today about the accident, which has devastated the family.

&#8220Those boys were his life,” said Freddie Brown, a deputy and chaplain for the sheriff’s department.

This type of situation is always very difficult for the family, he said.

&#8220His situation is different than most because he had two sons get killed,” Brown said. &#8220The accidents were so close, he actually drove by the second accident on his way home from the first and had no idea it was his other son.”

The circumstances surrounding the accidents make this tragedy much more difficult for the family, he said.

&#8220I had gone fishing with those boys and their dad several times since I joined the department,” Brown said. &#8220They had a great relationship with their father and loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing.”

&#8220As a parent, your worst nightmare is to lose a child,” Lawrence said. &#8220But losing both in one night this way, words can’t explain it.”

Lawrence has known Andy McDowell, working with him at the Bowling Green city cemetery.

Lawrence helps run a support group for families who have had these types of experiences. There is nothing to be said to the family right now to make them feel better, he said.

&#8220You just have to put your arms around them and hug them,” Lawrence said. &#8220My son is 18 and I went in and checked on him when I got home last night.”

Rory McDowell worked for a local fence company. Both were graduates of Warren East High School.

J. C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, is handling the funeral arrangements, which are incomplete.