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Man in fatality drove 7 DUIIs Gertsch arraigned in Medford By Joanna Collins The accused drunk driver in a head-on crash that killed a Talent woman Aug. 29 has at least seven previous convictions for driving under the influence, prosecutors said Wednesday. John Gertsch, 41, was arraigned before a Jackson County judge Wednesday on charges of manslaughter, five counts of assault and felony DUII. He was lodged in jail Tuesday when he was released from the Rogue Valley Medical Center after treatment for injuries to the head, leg and wrist. Gertsch remains in jail on $1 million bail. His right arm in a cast, Gertsch was pushed into the courtroom in a wheelchair by sheriff�s deputies. He did not enter a plea or make any other statement. Judge Dan Harris assigned him an attorney from the public defender�s office. Sheriff�s deputies said Gertsch�s Ford van drifted into oncoming traffic Aug. 29 on Hanley Road and struck a minivan with five passengers. The driver of the minivan, 43-year-old Jane Talos, was pronounced dead at the scene; her five teenage passengers received injuries. If Gertsch is convicted of manslaughter, he faces at least 10 years in prison under Measure 11, Oregon�s mandatory minimum-sentence law. During Wednesday�s arraignment, it was unclear whether Gertsch was previously convicted of eight DUIIs or if this new charge would be his eighth DUII. Deputy District Attorney Holly Smith declined to clear up the matter afterward, saying the DA�s office could not discuss Gertsch�s history beyond what was said in court. Gertsch could face prison time on the newest DUII charge alone. A new Oregon law makes four DUIIs in 10 years a felony with a minimum sentence of 13 months. The DUII charge stemming from the Aug. 29 crash would be Gertsch�s fourth DUII in the last 10 years. His previous three convictions were in South Dakota, Smith said. Details were not available about others. According to Oregon court records, Gertsch was cited for driving with a suspended license Dec. 9. He failed to appear in court on the charge in March and was fined $56. The district attorney�s office will seek to indict Gertsch before the grand jury today. Only one passenger from the accident, Timothy Borders of Medford, remained hospitalized Wednesday. The 17-year-old was listed in serious condition at Providence Medford Medical Center, where he is being treated for internal injuries. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA