Highway 140 Crash Claims Two Young Lives
OSP says speed and impairment were likely factors in the fatal wreck.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Two teenagers were killed and two others critically injured early Saturday morning after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 140, about nine miles east of Eagle Point, according to the Oregon State Police (OSP).
Authorities said the crash occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. when a westbound Ford F-350 pickup failed to negotiate a curve, broke through a guardrail, and rolled into a nearby creek.
The 17-year-old male driver from Eagle Point was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, identified as Mitchel Frank Thorpe, 18, also of Eagle Point, was found deceased in the vehicle. Both were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, investigators said.
Two other passengers — a 17-year-old male from Eagle Point and a 17-year-old female from Medford — were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. Their conditions have not been released.
Speed and Impairment Suspected
Investigators believe speed and impairment were contributing factors in the crash. OSP said the vehicle left the roadway at high speed before breaching the guardrail and overturning.
“Impairment and speed are considered the primary factors of the crash,” the agency stated in a release Sunday.
The crash remains under investigation by the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, with assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Point Police Department, Medford Police Department, Lake Creek Fire, Fire District 3, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Highway 140 was partially closed for about an hour during the on-scene investigation as emergency crews worked to clear debris and assess the crash site.
A Community in Mourning
The small communities of Eagle Point and Medford have been shaken by the news, with many taking to social media to express condolences and support for the victims’ families. Counselors are expected to be available at local schools this week for students and staff impacted by the tragedy.
Authorities are once again reminding the public about the importance of seatbelt use and the dangers of driving under the influence — especially among young drivers.
OSP continues to gather evidence and interview witnesses as part of its ongoing investigation.