JACKSON COUNTY, OR - On Monday, September 18, 2023, at approximately 11:38 P.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 44, in Jackson County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Mustang, operated by Charles Melvin Cole (85) of Central Point, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5.
The Ford struck a Dodge Durango, operated by Carl Melborne Dewitt Jr (67) of Grants Pass, head-on.
After the crash, a Dodge ProMaster, operated by Evan Ryle Miller (30) of Bellingham (WA), struck debris and was damaged.
OSP was responding to the report of a wrong way driver approximately 3 minutes prior to the crash being reported.
The operator of the Ford (Cole) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Dodge Durango (Dewitt Jr) and passenger, Jeffrey Adam Dewitt (43) of Grants Pass, were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment of what is expected to be minor injuries.
The operator of the Dodge ProMaster was not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately 3.5 hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Fire, and ODOT.
