Crash on Highway 62 Claims One Life

One man was killed and another critically injured.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(EAGLE POINT, Ore.) - One person died, his brother was critically injured, and two others received non-life threatening injuries Wednesday evening in a three-vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 62 about two miles east of Eagle Point in front of Willamette Egg Farm.

Sergeant Tanya Henderson with Oregon State Police says that around 6:46 PM this evening, a 1998 Subaru Impreza four-door driven by 20-year old Nicholas Gordon of Ashland, was westbound on Highway 62 near milepost 12 when it began an attempted pass of another vehicle on a straight stretch of two-lane highway.

"Upon beginning the attempted pass, an eastbound 2005 Toyota Highlander driven by 77-year old Erik Larsen of Shady Cove was approaching, so the Subaru braked in attempt to slow and move back into the westbound lane."

She says Nicholas Gordon lost control and his vehicle began to fishtail, sliding broadside into the eastbound lane where it was struck in the driver's side by the front of the Toyota Highlander, causing it to contact another vehicle.

"After the initial impact, an eastbound 2002 Hyundai sport utility vehicle struck the back of the Toyota Highlander causing minor damage."

Nicholas Gordon was using safety restraints and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His brother was seated in the right front passenger seat and was critically injured. 17-year old Maxwell Gordon of Ashland, was transported by Mercy Flights ground ambulance to Rogue Valley Medical Center. Police are not sure if he was wearing safety restraints.

Henderson says Larsen and his wife, 69-year old Susan Larsen, were both using safety restraints and were transported by ground ambulance to Rogue Valley Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The two Hyundai occupants, 57-year old Walter Orange and 64-year old Michelle Orange, both of Eagle Point, were not injured. Both were using safety restraints.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Central Point Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Assistance at the scene provided by Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Shady Cove Police Department, Eagle Point Police Department, Jackson County Fire District 3, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Highway 62 was closed about 2 1/2 hours.