Local News

A tragic weekend mishap claimed the life of a young girl in a south Grants Pass parking lot.

On Saturday at 11:24 a.m., the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received multiple calls about a child who was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of a business on Fruitdale Drive near Williams Highway.

Grants Pass police officers responded to the scene along with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response. A five-year-old girl was found seriously injured and emergency aid was immediately rendered. The child was transported by AMR to Three Rivers Medical Center where -- despite medical efforts -- she succumbed to her injuries.

With the assistance of witnesses, Grants Pass police detectives determined the vehicle that struck the girl was unoccupied. The 74-year-old owner of the truck had parked the vehicle and exited it in the parking lot. The man quickly realized his truck was rolling backwards and he attempted to open the door to stop it, but was unable to do so before it struck the girl and came to rest against a parked vehicle.

Detectives said the man has cooperated with the investigation, and alcohol or other controlled substances were not believed to be a factor. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Grants Pass Police Department at (541)-450-6260.