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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, April 21, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 20, 2005 Grand jury probes high-speed fatal crash By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune 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. Advertisement 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. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Tatoos Advertisement s