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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 2, 2005 Woman struck by patrol car listed in serious condition By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune The Medford woman struck by a Jackson County sheriff’s deputy patrol car in Phoenix Wednesday night suffered a fractured vertebra in her neck, according to her sister. Jolene L. Goucher remained hospitalized in serious condition and was awaiting word on whether she will need surgery, said Goucher’s sister Anona Hofmann. The women live together in the 100 block of Fern Valley Road. The accident occurred just a few dozen yards from their home, in a crosswalk along Valley View Road between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in Phoenix. "She’s doing pretty good today," Hofmann said. "It looks like she has a fractured vertebra in her neck, but she’s in pretty good spirits." Goucher, who has lived in the Medford area most of her life, was running errands Wednesday night when the accident occurred. She had just purchased a coffee at the Dutch Bros. drive-up and was headed home when the patrol car driven by deputy Randall L. Arnold struck her as she was in the crosswalk, Hofmann said. Advertisement Sheriff Mike Winters did not return phone calls requesting comment on the deputy’s duty status. It was the deputy’s second accident, though he was cleared of responsibility in the first incident. Goucher, 49, was visited in the hospital by family and her fianc�e Thursday. She spoke to Hofmann about the accident. "She didn’t see him coming and he didn’t see her coming, by the sound of it," Hofmann said. Hofmann said that Goucher told her the deputy was not driving very fast when his car struck her. The investigation is being handled by Oregon State Police. OSP trooper Stephanie Bigman said she is still collecting witness statements. Bigman said it "seemed a little odd" that both Goucher and Arnold had street lights indicating it was legal to go. She spent Thursday trying to determine whether the lights at the intersection are set up to work that way. But even if both had lights telling them to go, the pedestrian always has the right-of-way under Oregon law, Bigman said. Bigman is looking into the weather being a possible factor, as it was raining heavily at the time of the accident. Goucher was also wearing mostly black at the time, which would make it difficult to see her, Bigman said. Tests found that neither Goucher nor Arnold were under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the accident, Bigman said. This is not the first time Arnold has been involved in a car crash while on duty. In August 2004, his patrol car collided with another vehicle at a White City intersection. OSP investigators cleared Arnold of any wrongdoing after it was determined that the other driver failed to yield the right of way to Arnold’s patrol car. Arnold was driving 35 mph in a 25- mph zone on his way to another emergency at the time of the crash. Investigators found that the driver of the car had a clear view of Arnold’s patrol car, which had its patrol lights flashing. The investigation is continuing, Barthel said. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4459, or e-mail Woman struck by patrol car listed in serious condition ">[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. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s