Two Killed in Separate Jackson County Crashes, Speed a Factor
Jackson County, OR - Excessive speed is believed to have caused two separate single-vehicle crashes in Jackson County this week, resulting in two fatalities, according to the Oregon State Police. The incidents occurred Wednesday and Thursday, highlighting the dangers of reckless driving.
On Wednesday at 9:25 p.m., OSP responded to a crash on the Highway 62 Expressway near Crater Lake Highway. A Honda CRV driven by 19-year-old Anthony Ruben Graham of Eagle Point failed to negotiate a turn, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Passenger Michael R. Graham, 20, also of eagle Point, was pronounced dead at the scene. Anthony Graham was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries; his condition remains unknown as of Friday afternoon. The highway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation.
A second fatal crash occurred Thursday at 6:05 a.m. on highway 99 near Callahan’s Mountain lodge southeast of Ashland. Tristan Mitchel Donaldson, 21, of Rogue River, was driving a Mazda MZ3 southbound when he lost control at a high speed, rolled multiple times, and collided with a tree. Donaldson was declared dead at the scene. Highway 99 was not impacted by the investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, Jackson County Fire Districts 1 and 3, and the Oregon Department of Transportation in both investigations. The causes of both crashes remain under investigation.
