Injury Accident on Hwy. 199, Oct. 29

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Monday afternoon’s two-vehicle injury crash that occurred on Highway 199 at Hayes Hill near Wonder in Josephine County. Two people were transported with non-life threatening injuries. On October 27, 2014 at approximately 4:49 p.m., a 1980 Ford pickup driven by RODGER C. KELM, age 58, from White City, was southbound on Highway 199 near milepost 15 when his pickup became disabled causing KELM to pull to the shoulder. The Ford pickup was parked with emergency flashers activated and the left side wheels about two feet into the right southbound lane. According to witnesses, approaching southbound traffic was able to move to the left lane to get past the stopped Ford pickup. An approaching 1999 Dodge pickup driven by FRANK B. ROSSI JR, age 43, from Selma, failed to move to the left and crashed into the left rear of the stopped Ford pickup. Both vehicles came to rest in the right southbound lane and shoulder. FRANK ROSSI was not using safety restraints and was extricated by fire personnel from Rural/Metro Fire and Illinois Valley Fire District. Female passenger, RAEVIN ROSSI, age 17, was using safety restraints. Both were transported by AMR ambulance to Asante Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. KELM refused medical transport from the scene. Initial investigation led OSP to cite KELM for No Operators License and Driving Uninsured. A decision on other enforcement action for the Dodge pickup’s driver is pending further investigation. Senior Trooper Scott Holsworth is the lead investigator. In addition to fire and medical personnel, OSP was assisted at the scene by Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT. Traffic was diverted past the scene using available traffic lanes for about 2 hours.