Sole occupant killed in single-vehicle rollover Wednesday morning

Ashland.news staff reports

A Yreka man whose vehicle rolled near milepost 21 on Interstate 5 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Wednesday died, according to Oregon State Police reports.

The preliminary investigation indicated a black Chrysler Town and Country was operated by Ruben Nanez, 69, of Yreka, who succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. Nanez was traveling south on the interstate when for unknown reasons the vehicle drifted off the roadway into a ditch embankment, OSP said in a news release. The van overturned and landed in a small creek. 

Fire and medical personnel extricated Nanez, who was the single male occupant, and attempted life-saving measures, however the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

The roadway was not blocked during the on-scene investigation, though there were numerous law enforcement vehicles at the scene on the side of the highway.

Several OSP vehicles responded to the scene, as seen by an Ashland.news reporter as she drove past the scene. OSP was assisted by Jackson County Fire personnel, Oregon Phoenix Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Transportation (ODOT) personnel.

Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at [email protected].