Authorities Investigating 2 Fatal Crashes near Cave Junction Over Past 2 Days
A Sunday night crash near Cave Junction claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman -- it was one of two fatal Illinois Valley crashes that occurred in less than one day.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on Rockydale Road near Idlewild Drive on Sunday at 8:18 p.m..
Deputies said the initial investigation indicated a vehicle driven by Myrtle Grace Thogmartin was traveling toward Redwood Highway on Rockydale when -- for an unknown reason -- the vehicle left the roadway and struck a power pole with enough force to shear the pole in half.
IVFD and AMR arrived to find the vehicle in a ditch and Thogmartin had been ejected. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin was notified.
On Monday at 10:45 a.m., deputies, IVFD, AMR and the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Waldamar Road.
IVFD officials reported one fatality and said extrication was required for the OSP investigation, which caused significant delays on US Highway 199. No other information will be available until OSP sends out a press release.
Posted on 5/20/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
