Mail Tribune News - Ashland woman dies when hit by van

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2001-01-26

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Ashland woman dies when hit by van ASHLAND � A pedestrian on her way to pick up dinner at a retirement community was killed Thursday night when a work van backed over her. Bonnie McMillan, 63, of Ashland was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred at about 5:45 p.m. outside the Mountain Meadows Retirement Community, according to Ashland police Lt. Rick Walsh. Walsh said it appears McMillan was in the road near the driveway to the retirement center, 900 Mountain Meadows Drive, when she was struck by a full-size Ford 350 van that was backing out the driveway. It was dark, and van driver Steven Stelle, of Central Point, told police he didn�t notice anything unusual until he felt resistance when he tried to pull forward, Walsh said. "He spotted what he thought was a golf club in the road, so he got out to have a look," Walsh said. "That�s when he saw her underneath the van." Stelle, 41, immediately called 911 from his cell phone, Walsh said. Police and rescue units arrived quickly, but McMillan died at the scene from massive head and chest injuries. The golf club was actually a cane. McMillan lived with a relative nearby at 935 Mountain Meadows Circle and was on her way to the retirement center�s dinner hall to pick up dinner, Walsh said. There apparently were no witnesses. Walsh said it did not appear Stelle was driving recklessly and was not intoxicated. No charges or citations were issued. "At this point, the case is still under investigation," Walsh said.   Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.