Man charged in crash that killed 7-year-old girl

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-11-28

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A former North Medford High School track and cross-country athlete has been charged with criminally negligent homicide following a crash that killed a 7-year-old girl. Devyn James Baldovino, 24, of Greenmoor Drive in Eagle Point, was arraigned this month on a charge that he unlawfully and with criminal negligence caused the death of Maddison Rhodena Baker Jan. 29. Baker was killed and three others were injured when the vehicle they were in was rear-ended by a pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed near the intersection of Highway 140 and Lakeview Drive in White City. A preliminary investigation showed that a 2006 Scion XB, operated by 29-year-old Jordan Bailey, was traveling eastbound on the highway and had slowed to make a left turn onto Lakeview Drive. A 1985 Ford F250 driven by Baldovino was also traveling eastbound on Highway 140. He failed to recognize the left turn in progress, police said. Baker was a passenger in the back seat of the Scion that was struck from behind, police said. Oregon State Police said at the time they were investigating the possibility that distracted driving was a factor in the crash. Jackson County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Markiewicz declined to discuss details, including whether cellphone use was a factor in the collision, because the case is still pending. Although the crash happened almost 10 months ago, Baldovino was only recently charged because the investigation had been ongoing, Markiewicz said. A lawyer for Baldovino is not yet listed in Jackson County Circuit Court records. Baldovino was once a standout track and cross-country athlete for North Medford High School. His accomplishments include winning the 800-meter race in the highly competitive Grants Pass Rotary Invitational track meet and placing fifth at state in the event in 2013. In 2017, Baldovino pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and harassment after punching out the driver’s side window of a vehicle during an argument with his ex-girlfriend, who was inside the vehicle, according to Jackson County Circuit Court documents. He complied with a requirement to attend a domestic-abuse counseling program for 42 weeks and had the charges dismissed this year under a deferred sentencing agreement, court records show. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous .