Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation of a motor vehicle crash on I-5 southbound at milepost 96 involving a car and semi-truck, which resulted in the death of a woman driving the wrong way on the freeway. ** Additional information to the original release ** On Nov. 14, prior to 10 p.m., OSP Southern Command Center (SCC) began to receive multiple calls about a 2011 white Mazda 3, driving erratically in the Grants Pass area. Troopers in Grants Pass attempted to overtake the vehicle from behind but were unable to. Additional callers advised the vehicle was now northbound in the southbound lanes of I-5 at milepost 88, near Canyonville. Several vehicles avoided the wrong-way Mazda, including one that was forced off the roadway, as troopers scrambled to locate it. At milepost 96, the Mazda hit a semi-truck head-on. The collision occurred near the centerline of the freeway as the operator of the semi-truck was unable to avoid the car. The semi-truck caught fire and burned at the scene, blocking the freeway for several hours. The Mazda’s driver, identified as KATHLEEN F. PETERSEN, 64, of Brookings, died as a result of the crash. The driver of the semi-truck, JOSE GARCIA, 41, of Compton Calif., was transported to Mercy Medical Center and treated for a broken arm and unknown other injuries. The reason for PETERSEN’s erratic driving is still under investigation as troopers follow-up with multiple callers on this incident.
