Interstate 5 Crash Near Gold Hill Claims Life of Elderly Woman

Near Gold Hill, Oregon- A single-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Jackson County on Monday resulted in the death of a passenger and minor injuries to the driver.

The incident occurred near milepost 43 on southbound I-5 when a Chevrolet Trailblazer, operated by 74-year-old Shawn L. Hayes of Medford, struck a tire from a commercial motor vehicle that was lying in the slow lane. The impact caused Hayes to lose control of the vehicle, which subsequently rolled into the median.

Hayes sustained minor injuries, while a passenger in the vehicle, 74-year-old Debbie S. Hyden of Yucaipa, California, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash led to significant traffic disruptions, with the highway impacted for approximately five hours as the Oregon State Police (OSP) conducted an on-scene investigation.

OSP was supported by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Rogue River Police Department, Rogue River Fire and Rescue, Mercy Flights, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.