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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 1, 2005 Ashland brawl injuries severe By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Several young men were injured early Saturday during a melee sparked when unwanted guests apparently failed to leave a party quick enough to satisfy the hosts. At least two people were run over by a Cadillac as it fled the scene, police said, leaving large bloodstains that remained in the road Saturday afternoon. Police are still trying to sort out what happened. Patrol officers and detectives from several Jackson County police agencies were called to a home in the 600 block of South Valley View Road at about 2 a.m. after several people called 9-1-1 to report a fight in progress. As many as 30 people may have been involved in the brawl, said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters. When a group of young males from Medford sped away from the scene in a Cadillac, they ran over at least two people, police said. Timothy J. Williams, 21, of Ashland, and Israel Fransua Moncada, 22, of Medford, were both hospitalized with serious injuries after being struck by the car, Winters said. Moncada had arrived at the party with the group in the Cadillac; Williams is a friend of the renters who hosted the party, authorities said. Advertisement Spokeswomen at Ashland Community Hospital, Rogue Valley Medical Center and Providence Medford Medical Center said they had no information late Saturday regarding either man. Williams’ friends said the Ashland man was expected to survive injuries that include a broken back and neck. Nothing further was known about the seriousness of Moncada’s injuries. No arrests have been made in connection with the fracas. Jackson County sheriff’s Detective Colin Fagan said police still need to interview several witnesses to determine what exactly happened outside the home, and whether the Medford group intended to strike anyone with the Cadillac. He said bottles and rocks were thrown during the fight, and other weapons may have been used. "It was a complete mess," Fagan said of the melee. He added that police believe the rental home is a spot where juveniles frequently gather to drink alcohol. "At that particular residence, we have had problems with underage drinking," he said. "It’s a chronic problem there." The home’s renters said they believed all party attendees were of legal drinking age. According to residents Nick, 21, and Ryan, 22, an argument escalated when the five members of the Medford group remained in the street outside the rental home after being told to leave. Neither man wished to have their full names published, each said during an interview at the house. "We were just hanging out with some friends," said Nick. "These guys came up who weren’t really wanted, and we told them to leave. When they first came, we respectfully asked them to go. They weren’t having it." He said the situation turned ugly after "six or seven" males from the house confronted the Medford group on South Valley View Road. "They came out with crowbars and bats," Nick said. "None of us had weapons. We’re not fighting kind of people." Nick said he was struck across the back by a crowbar-wielding member of the Medford group. Ryan claimed a cut and bruise visible on the left side of his face happened when a man hit him with a baseball bat during the fight. His arm was in a sling on Saturday, but Ryan said he had not sought medical treatment. Ryan said after realizing the other group was armed, he went back into the home to retrieve a stun gun. The weapon was not used during the altercation, he said. "We were just trying to protect ourselves and our property," Nick said. Fagan said investigators believe male partygoers hurled rocks and bottles at the Cadillac as the Medford group tried to leave. The visitors apparently did not realize Moncada was still outside, and struck him with the vehicle while leaving the scene. "They ran over (Moncada) twice and then ran over our friends," Nick said. Ryan said a third person who is a friend of his was also struck by the car, and was recovering Saturday at home. Winters said several other people involved in the fracas sought medical attention for cuts, bruises and possible fractures. No neighbors contacted Saturday by the Mail Tribune would agree to be identified in the newspaper. A man who lives across the street from the home where the fight happened said "wild parties have been going on for some time" at the residence, but that he has had "no particular problems" with people there. A second neighbor who lives next door to the rental home said that while noisy parties have been held there in the past, residents always agree to quiet down when asked. The police investigation into the brawl is continuing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to phone Fagan at 774-6800. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. 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