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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us April 20, 2005 Grand jury hears testimony today in fatal February crash Talent police officer called as witness in probe of wreck that killed Ashland teen, Shady Cove man By Jack Moran For the Tidings More than two months after a high-speed crash in downtown Medford that killed an intoxicated Ashland teen and a Shady Cove father, a grand jury will convene today to hear testimony relating to the wreck. Witnesses will include Talent police Officer Jeff Price, who trailed a Jeep Cherokee as it sped along Riverside Avenue on the night of Feb. 11. The Cherokee, driven by 17-year-old Kevan Thatcher-Stephens of Ashland, ran a red light and crashed into a Chevy Blazer driven by Charles Bench, 26, of Shady Cove, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Thatcher-Stephens died later that night at a Medford hospital. Talent Police Chief Bob Rector confirmed Price has been asked to testify at today’s grand jury hearing in Medford. Rector said to his knowledge, no other Talent police employees have been subpoenaed. A Talent reserve officer, Michelle Gideon, was a passenger in a Jackson County sheriff’s patrol car that followed Price’s vehicle behind the Cherokee. It was unknown whether the driver of the sheriff’s car, Capt. Joe Puckett, will testify at today’s hearing. Sheriff Mike Winters said Tuesday he did not know if Puckett is on the witness list. Josephine County District Attorney Stephen Campbell did not return a phone call Tuesday seeking more information about the hearing, which is not open to the public. Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston gave the case to Campbell to avoid a perceived conflict of interest because Puckett is a senior supervisor at the sheriff’s department. While Campbell is handling prosecution of the case, Medford police are still seeking information in connection with the crash. “It’s not over,” said Medford police Lt. Tim George. “We’re still in the (middle) of the investigation. Stephen Campbell is directing the grand jury part of it.” George referred additional questions to Campbell. A teen passenger in the Blazer who survived the crash with serious injuries has not been asked to testify today, his mother said. “We haven’t heard a thing” about the hearing, said Judee Graham-Collier. “Nobody’s knocked on our door.” Injuries sustained in the crash by her son, Ian Graham-Collier, 17, are healing, she said. “Physically, he’s in good shape,” Judee Graham-Collier said. “Mentally, it’s day-to-day.” A blood test taken by Providence Medford Medical Center nurses following the crash showed Thatcher-Stephens’ blood-alcohol content was .16 percent, officials said. Police previously told the Mail Tribune they were having difficulty getting potential witnesses to say where the teen consumed the alcohol and who supplied it. Police speculated criminal charges resulting from the investigation could include furnishing alcohol to a minor and hindering prosecution. The grand jury could also be asked to review the actions of Price and Puckett as they trailed Thatcher-Stephens while he raced along Riverside while reportedly traveling between 90 and 100 mph. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Free Musick Downloads Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress tcg student loan consolidation home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms Tatoos student loans African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Student Loans Tatoo Poker Games Homeschooling Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams