Update: Victim’s name released in crash following pursuit

CRASH PICUpdate: Oregon State Police have released the name of the victim that was killed in the crash. Police say Catherine Hein, 63, was in her car at the intersection of Vilas and Table Rock road, when Robert Brooks collided with her car.

Brooks is currently at the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

He’ll be taken to the Jackson County Jail. Charges have not yet been filed.

A memorial fund has been set up for Hein HERE.


Jackson Co., Ore. — One person was killed in an overnight crash, following a pursuit that spanned from East Medford to Central Point early Sunday morning. Medford Police Chief Randy Sparacino said the suspect fled from police, and crashed into another car, causing the death of that driver.

“It’s a very emotional situation for all of the people involved, not only the people that lost a loved one, but also the members of the Medford Police Department,” Chief Sparacino said.

The suspect, Robert Brooks, 26, was contacted by police just before midnight on Saturday, near the Travelodge on Alba drive. Officers attempted to arrest Brooks on a warrant, when he began resisting, and got away.

Police say Brooks was tazed two times, before he was able to get in his car and drive off.

Authorities say Brooks led them on a chase through East Medford to Foothills road. Brooks turned onto Vilas, and drove to the intersection at Table Rock road, where Sparacino said he crashed.

“The vehicle was involved in a serious crash, which resulted in the injury of the fleeing driver, and a fatality to the driver of the vehicle it struck,” Sparacino said.

After colliding with the other car, the vehicle crashed into the Lil’ Pantry and caught on fire. Ashley Lara, a spokesperson for Jackson County Fire District Three said the flames quickly spread to the building. Brooks was removed from the vehicle.

“Two sheriff officers were actually able to extricate him,” Lara said. “The majority of the fire was in the front, where the vehicle had crashed into the building, it did start to spread to the roof line, from what I could see, they were able to stop it very quickly.”

Firefighters were able to extricate the second driver within eight minutes. It’s not clear when the victim died. Their name was not released by police.

Brooks was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Oregon State Police are leading the investigation, and the Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit was activated. More information on the case, including the victim’s name is expected to be released this week.

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