Josephine County, Ore. – Oregon State Police were notified on October 22nd about a silver Mercedes that was possibly involved in drug trafficking and transporting an endangered woman. The report said the car was traveling from Medford to Grants Pass.
Police said that around 3:30 p.m., an OSP trooper saw a Mercedes that matched the suspect vehicle’s description traveling northbound on Interstate 5. The driver of the Mercedes had committed at least two traffic violations. When the vehicle exited the freeway and began to travel on the Grants Pass Parkway, the trooper tried to stop it near Agness Avenue.
According to OSP, the Mercedes pulled into a Shari’s Restaurant parking lot and a female passenger came out of the vehicle and fled on foot. The vehicle then sped away toward I-5.
OSP said the trooper pursed the vehicle until it began to travel the wrong direction onto I-5 northbound. The trooper did not follow.
Police said they later received a report of a head-on crash on I-5 near milepost 52. First responders found the Mercedes had collided with a Toyota Camry. The driver of the Camry, 61-year-old Vicki Bigham, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Troopers said one occupant of the Mercedes ran into nearby woods. The other occupant, 25-year-old Jacob Strock, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
After an extensive search, troopers said they were unable to locate the person that ran from the scene. There is no description of the person, and it’s not known whether Strock was the driver of a passenger. The woman that fled from the Shari’s parking lot has been contacted by investigators.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone witnesses to the crash or anyone with information is urged to call Oregon State Police at 541-776-6111.
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