Medfor DUII Driver Charged in Fatal Accident
The Jackson County District Attorney has filed a myriad of charges against a hit and run driver involved in a fatal accident.
The afternoon of Oct. 11th Medford Police Department responded to a fatal hit-and-run involving a vehicle and a bicyclist on South Pacific Highway.
Prior to the collision, witnesses had called to report the vehicle driving erratically. Officers were responding to that report when the vehicle was reported to have drifted out of its lane and struck the bicyclist. The driver did not stop but rather continued into a nearby parking lot where Police Officers quickly located it and contacted the driver.
Despite officers' immediate attempts at life-saving measures on the bicyclist, 41-year old Jimilee “James” Thomas, was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.
The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team was activated and was able to determine that the driver of the vehicle, 36-year-old Cassie Jane Cavagnaro, was believed to have been ingesting an inhalant just prior to the accident. The white van Cavagnaro was driving left the roadway striking Thomas, who was legally operating his electric bicycle in the south-bound bike lane of S. Pacific Hwy.
Cavagnaro then fled the scene and was contacted nearby. She was lodged on a probation violation at the Jackson County Jail, and Wednesday she was charged with manslaughter in the 1st & 2nd degree, DUII – Inhalant, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Hit and Run – Felony.
This case is being prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office
