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CRASH 22 hurt in rollover of shuttle bus Bus was loaded with doctors and nurses on a rafting trip with Noah's River Adventures Comment By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 6:33 PM Updated Jun 27, 2016 at 6:34 PM By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 6:33 PM Updated Jun 27, 2016 at 6:34 PM » Social News An inattentive driver is being blamed for a slow-rollover crash of an Ashland rafting company's shuttle bus Sunday afternoon that injured 22 people, three critically, along the Klamath River in Northern California, police said. The victims were primarily Southern Oregon doctors, nurses and nurses' assistants who had just finished a rafting trip down the Klamath River with Ashland-based Noah's River Adventures, according to the California Highway Department. Driver Kathleen Akin, 52, of White City, was distracted by comments from one of the passengers, and when she replied, she lost control of the bus on the narrow, dirt road east of Copco, CHP Officer Jason Chilton said. The shuttle bus rolled slowly onto its roof about 15 feet down the embankment, Chilton said. "It was a slow-speed collision, maybe 5 mph," Chilton said. Only Akin was wearing a seat belt, Chilton said. The others, who included Noah rafting guides, were able to free themselves from the wreckage, and one of the doctors had to cut Akin from her seat belt to free her, Chilton said. The doctors and nurses "triaged each other" and treated their wounds until police and medical personnel arrived, Chilton said. Three victims with the most serious injuries, including one with a neck fracture, were airlifted from the scene, and four others left in ambulances, Chilton said. Others received cuts and bruises, he said. Their destinations were hospitals in Medford, Grants Pass and Ashland, but no identities of the injured people nor their current conditions were available Monday afternoon, Chilton said. Chilton identified them only as people in the medical field in Medford, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. Noah's River Adventures owner Bart Baldwin did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. In an email release, Baldwin expressed sadness over the crash, saying that his company was taking "every step possible" to support those who were injured. "Our biggest concern of course has been the well being of our rafting guests who were in the vehicle at the time of the accident," the release states. "We are happy to report that all of our guests are scheduled to make a full recovery." Akin was cooperative with officers, and neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to have been involved, Chilton said. "At this time, it's just considered inattention," Chilton said. Akin, who could not be located for comment, was not cited, and no decision has been made on whether she will face charges, Chilton said. Akin has no criminal history in Oregon, though she was ticketed and fined in 1991 in Josephine County, and in Jackson County in 1998, for separate driving infractions, court records show. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 27, 2016 at 6:33 PM Updated Jun 27, 2016 at 6:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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