Driver dies after pursuit in Jackson County

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – A police pursuit ended in a fatal crash over the weekend.

The Jacksonville Police Department said on the afternoon of January 1, dispatchers were told about a reckless vehicle swerving on the roadway heading toward Jacksonville from Cady Road.

A few minutes after the call was received, a Jacksonville police officer found the vehicle and tried to pull it over. However, the vehicle didn’t stop and the driver reportedly tried to elude the officer.

Eventually, the suspect lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree near the intersection of South Stage Road and Sunset Drive. The suspect did not survive.

The name of the driver is being withheld until family members have been notified about the death.

Neighbors say the car was wrapped around one of the trees.

A person who witnessed the police chase said the suspect was going at a high rate of speed.

“There was an officer in pursuit a little bit behind, not on his tail,” eyewitness Becky Savage said. “I came up to the stop sign on hull road and south stage and as i was looking to my left for traffic, i turned back around and there was a dark blur that went by me. Well over doing 100 miles per hour.”

Multiple neighbors tell us they heard a huge boom when the crash happened.

Some had debris in their yards, and two two fences were damaged.

No officers were injured in the incident, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

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