WOLF CREEK, Ore. (Oct. 27, 2026) — A 40-year-old man was arrested on multiple felony charges after authorities say he drove at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane, struck another vehicle head-on and fled the scene of a fiery crash Sunday evening in Wolf Creek.
Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call at about 7:17 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, reporting a head-on crash on North Frontage Road. Both vehicles were reported to be in the roadway and on fire.
As emergency crews responded, they were advised that the driver accused of causing the crash had fled on foot toward Interstate 5 after attempting to assault an occupant of the other vehicle.
Oregon State Police located the driver near milepost 75 of I-5 and detained him. He was later identified as 40-year-old Arthur Espinoza.
Responding units arrived at the crash scene to find both vehicles fully engulfed in flames. The two occupants of the other vehicle were transported to Three Rivers Community Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
An initial investigation found Espinoza had been traveling south at a high rate of speed in the northbound lane of North Frontage Road when his vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle head-on near the Exit 76 on-ramp, according to authorities.
Espinoza was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of third-degree assault, felony hit-and-run involving injury, reckless driving and attempted fourth-degree assault.
Oregon State Police additionally charged Espinoza with driving under the influence of intoxicants and second-degree disorderly conduct.
North Frontage Road was closed for approximately two hours while crews conducted an extensive cleanup of the two burned vehicles.
Authorities said no further information will be released at this time.
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