Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed a vehicle into a ditch in the Jerome Prairie area over the weekend.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies initially responded to a traffic complaint involving a black Chevrolet that was speeding at up to 95 miles per hour and nearly hitting several vehicles on Redwood Avenue on Saturday around 11 p.m..

Deputies said a concerned citizen followed the vehicle driven by 22-year-old Marco Antony Rivera out Redwood Highway to Helms Road to Stringer Gap Road and Woodland Park Road before he crashed into a ditch in the 5300-block of Jerome Prairie Road. He was able to remove the vehicle from the ditch and was observed driving on grass.

Rivera was passed out behind the wheel and covered in vomit when deputies and Oregon State troopers arrived on scene. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that confirmed strong impairment by alcohol.

Rivera was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving.