On Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a multiple-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 5, near milepost 35, in Jackson County. The preliminary investigation indicated that the Chevrolet Suburban, operated by Helen Marie Cain (64) of Central Point, crashed into the center wire barrier for unknown reasons. The initial crash led to multiple subsequent crashes within the same scene. A total of nine vehicles from the crash scene were damaged. The operator of a Toyota Tercel, Douglas James Flood (81) of Gold Hill, was pronounced deceased following transport to a local hospital. Flood was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The operator of the Chevrolet Suburban (Cain) and Courtney Marie Clark (38) of Grants Pass, the driver of a Ford Focus involved in the crash, were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Six additional vehicles were damaged in the crash with no reported injuries: Mercedes Van operated by Darren Mitchell Brown (36) of Lebanon; Honda CR-V operated by Brandi Lynn Teske Williams (56) of Grants Pass; Ford F-150 operated by Leo Jackson (71) of Central Point; Honda Civic operated by Frances Hammond (76) of Eugene; Honda CR-V operated by Erich Martin Buer (53) of Grants Pass; Ford Mustang operated by Kody Aaron Cox (47) of Grants Pass. The freeway was impacted, and traffic was detoured, for approximately five hours due to the crash. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Fire Department, Mercy Flights, Central Point Police Department, Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
