One motorist was killed and two others were injured in a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 5 near Central Point this week.
The Oregon State Police and local emergency first responders were dispatched to nine-vehicle wreck on northbound I-5 near milepost 35 on Wednesday at about 5:30 p.m..
OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated that a Chevrolet Suburban driven by 64-year-old Helen Marie Cain of Central Point crashed into the center wire barrier for unknown reasons. The initial crash led to multiple subsequent crashes.
Troopers said the driver of a Toyota Tercel -- 81-year-old Douglas James Flood of Gold Hill -- was pronounced deceased following transport to a local hospital. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Cain and the driver of a Ford Focus -- 38-year-old Courtney Marie Clark of Grants Pass -- were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Six additional vehicles were damaged in the crash with no reported injuries. The drivers were identified as 56-year-old Brandi Lynn Teske-Williams, 53-year-old Erich Martin Buer and 47-year-old Kody Aaron Cox of Grants Pass; 71-year-old Leo Jackson of Central Point; 36-year-old Darren Brown of Lebanon and 76-year-old Frances Hammond of Eugene.
According to OSP, the freeway was impacted and traffic was detoured for around five hours due to the crash.
OSP was assisted by Jackson County Fire District #3, Mercy Flights, Central Point Police Department, Jackson County District Attorney's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
