EAGLE POINT, Ore. (Aug. 4, 2026) — A Grants Pass man was killed and a passenger seriously injured after their vehicle struck an elk on Highway 234 near Eagle Point early Saturday morning, according to the Oregon State Police.
Troopers responded to the crash at approximately 4:42 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Highway 234 and Antioch Road.
A preliminary investigation determined that a white Kia Spectra was traveling eastbound when it struck a large cow elk that was in the roadway. After the initial impact, the vehicle continued eastbound, left the roadway and crossed onto the westbound shoulder, where it collided with a tree.
The driver, identified as 51-year-old Hilver Randolfo Perez Interiano of Grants Pass, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in the vehicle, 42-year-old Eyda Ortiz Perez of Grants Pass, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a Medford area hospital for treatment.
Authorities closed Highway 234 for approximately four hours while investigators processed the scene and cleared the roadway.
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is leading the investigation. The specialized unit investigates fatal and serious injury crashes throughout the state using advanced crash reconstruction techniques, including unmanned aircraft systems and certified collision reconstructionists.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Flights and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.
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