Document text
SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 21, 2003 Two-car crash on 140 hospitalizes 7 By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune LAKE CREEK — Motorists on Highway 140 were stranded for nearly two hours Sunday after a crash at 5:03 p.m. put seven people in the hospital. Susan Lopez, 25, of the 200 block of Gibbon Road, Central Point, was listed in critical condition Sunday night at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Nursing staff said they planned to transfer her to a Portland hospital late Sunday. Lopez’s blue Toyota Camry crashed head-on with a white Ford Explorer driven by Ronald Bailey of Federal Way, Wash. Headed toward Medford, Lopez tried to pass a moving van when her car collided in the oncoming lane with the Explorer, which caught fire, skidded off the highway and ignited a small grass fire. "I just couldn’t stand the thought of someone burning in there," said Eileen Renno, of Cave Junction. "It looked like it could go up any minute, and there was gas everywhere." Renno ran to Bailey’s aid and, with the help of several other motorists, pulled him from his vehicle. Bailey was listed in serious condition Sunday night at RVMC. His passenger, 52-year-old Rance Hall, jumped free from the Explorer. He was listed in fair condition at Providence Medford Medical Center late Sunday. Advertisement The grass fire was quickly extinguished, but the Explorer was burnt beyond recognition. It’s charred husk remained on the side of the highway while crews tended the fire scene. Lopez and her family were headed home from a church service in Klamath Falls at the time of the crash, said Oregon State Police trooper Bill Matson. Daisy Esquevel, 15, and 11-year-old Elizabeth Plasdencia both were in critical condition late Sunday. Alejandra Plasdencia, 12, was in serious condition while 23-year-old Maria Plasdencia was in fair condition. The girls’ relationship to Lopez was unclear. At press time, police had not provided the home towns and ages of all who were involved in the crash. Firefighters struggled for an hour and 30 minutes to free Lopez from the Camry, said Tom Brookins, battalion chief with Jackson County Fire District No. 3. Onlookers held umbrellas to shade the crews and brought blankets to cushion Lopez who spoke to her husband as she was loaded onto a stretcher. Lopez could later face assault charges for causing the crash, said OSP Sgt. Jeff Proulx. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times