District says five students involved; counselors and mental health staff to provide support while investigation continues
By Steve Mitchell, Ashland.news
Two Ashland High School students lost their lives and three others were injured in a car accident late Saturday night in Ashland, according to a letter to “Ashland School District Community” from the school district superintendent sent Sunday afternoon.
“There are no words sufficient for a moment like this,” Ashland School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick wrote in the letter.
Hattrick said five students were involved in the accident. Additional details are under investigation, he said. The district, Hattrick wrote, is limited in what it can share.
Local emergency responder logs show a traffic accident on a rural portion of East Nevada Street at 12:44 a.m. Sunday. A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office news release issued Sunday afternoon confirmed that was the accident involving the students.
Multiple occupants were injured in a rollover accident in the 1350 block of East Nevada Street where it makes a 90-degree turn from east-west to north-south, according to a review of emergency radio traffic. First responders found an Audi A6 that had struck a tree.
The car was occupied by five 17-year-olds, the release said. The driver was declared deceased at the scene.
Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue personnel conducted a complex extrication to remove the remaining occupants.
Mercy Flights transported the four remaining occupants to a local hospital with critical injuries. Shortly after arrival, a passenger was pronounced deceased. The three remaining occupants continue to receive care at the hospital and are in stable condition as of Sunday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.
Ashland Police Department officers responded to assist with the investigation.
The preliminary investigation indicates the car was traveling eastbound on East Nevada Street at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control prior to a 90-degree curve, causing the car to leave the roadway and strike a tree. The impact caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle.
The case is being investigated by the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating fatal and complex serious injury collisions. The team operates through a collaborative interagency agreement between JCSO, Medford Police Department, APD, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
The families of those involved have been notified, the news release said, adding that, out of respect for their privacy during this extremely difficult time, the names of the juveniles are being withheld.
“This is a devastating tragedy for our entire community. As a district, we are committed to surrounding our students, staff, and families with compassion, stability, and care in the days ahead,” Hattrick said in a statement. “We ask that our community respect the privacy of the families as they navigate this profound tragedy … What we can share is this: we will surround our students and staff with care.”
Counselors, mental health professionals, and district support staff will be available at the high school tomorrow and throughout the week, Hattrick wrote.
“Our hearts are shattered by this unimaginable loss,” added Ashland High School Principal Francisco Atanes. “These students were valued members of our school community, and their absence will be deeply felt in our classrooms, on our campus, and throughout our town. Right now, our focus is on caring for our students, staff, and families as we grieve together and support one another.”
5:12 p.m. Sunday: Updated with information from sheriff’s news release.
Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at stevem@ashland.news.
