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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 29, 2004 Woman will face criminal charges in motorcycle deaths By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A Shady Cove woman faces charges of criminally negligent homicide for her role in a September crash that killed two motorcyclists riding in a charity event. Reagan Dawn DeShane, 28, has been indicted in the deaths of David Tabor, 54, and 57-year-old Dennis Wayne Vittaco, both of Rogue River. Vittaco’s wife, Darlene, was hospitalized in Portland following the Sept. 25 collision on Highway 62 east of Trail. The Oregon State Police said DeShane’s 1993 Mazda two-door rounded a corner too fast, skidded on gravel and swung into the oncoming northbound lane. The car struck three motorcycles ridden by Tabor, the Vittacos and 20-year-old Central Point resident Maggie James, who was not injured. Tabor was dead when emergency medical workers arrived. The Vittacos were taken by helicopter to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, where Dennis Vittaco died four days after the crash. "It kind of left me with nothing," Darlene Vittaco said Tuesday, adding she now has no means of financial support. Advertisement Darlene Vittaco underwent surgery on her right leg. She said her hip, knee and nine ribs were broken. She was released from Emmanuel Legacy in October. The bikers were riding in a group from Naumes Equipment in Medford to Crater Lake to raise money for local Head Start programs, police said. The 9:45 a.m. wreck closed Highway 62 near the Elk Creek campground for about six hours and canceled the charity run. Neither DeShane nor her passenger, 32-year-old Paul Rexius of Medford, were injured, police said. Both were wearing seat belts. DeShane, however, was driving uninsured. A Jackson County grand jury indicted DeShane Thursday on two counts of criminally negligent homicide, according to Jackson County Circuit Court records. She will not be charged in connection with Darlene Vittaco’s injuries because assault can’t arise out of negligence under Oregon law, said District Attorney Mark Huddleston. If alcohol or drugs had been involved, grand jurors likely would have returned manslaughter charges against DeShane, Huddleston said. Unlike manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide has no mandatory sentence in Oregon, although the crime can carry prison time. DeShane, who lists no specific address, has spent no time in jail since the crash. Prosecutors Tuesday obtained a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested later Tuesday and lodged in the Jackson County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers