Three Killed When Driver Fleeing Police Crosses Center Line
OSP says the Myrtle Point driver sped away from an attempted police contact before the crash killed two adults and a 4-month-old girl.
AT A GLANCE
Crash: Two-vehicle head-on collision on Highway 42.
Location: Near milepost 21 in Myrtle Point.
Time: About 4:46 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.
Fatalities: James Edward Price, 32; Genevieve Marie Huffaker, 20; and a 4-month-old girl.
Other driver: Gregory Paul Olson, 69, suffered serious injuries.
Before the crash: OSP says Olson fled an attempted police contact related to unpaid merchandise at a local business.
Investigation: Oregon State Police says the case remains under investigation.
MYRTLE POINT, Ore. — Three people, including a 4-month-old infant, were killed Saturday after a driver fleeing an attempted police contact lost control on Highway 42 and crashed head-on into an oncoming vehicle, according to Oregon State Police.
The crash happened around 4:46 p.m. Sept. 19 near milepost 21, within the Myrtle Point city limits.
OSP said a Myrtle Point Police Department officer had been attempting to contact 69-year-old Gregory Paul Olson of Myrtle Point in connection with an incident at a local business several hours earlier.
Investigators said Olson had attempted to leave the business without paying for merchandise.
According to the preliminary investigation, Olson fled from the officer in a silver Land Rover LR3 and headed east on Highway 42 at a high rate of speed.
OSP said Olson later lost control of the Land Rover, crossed the center line, and collided head-on with a westbound Subaru Forester towing a jet ski.
The Subaru’s driver, 32-year-old James Edward Price of Myrtle Point, died at the scene.
A passenger, 20-year-old Genevieve Marie Huffaker of Coquille, was taken to an area hospital, where she died from her injuries.
A 4-month-old girl was transported to a Portland-area hospital but also died from her injuries.
Olson suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized when OSP released information about the crash Monday.
OSP’s release does not identify what merchandise Olson allegedly attempted to take from the business. It also does not make clear whether the Myrtle Point officer was actively pursuing Olson at the time of the collision or how much time or distance separated the initial police contact from the crash.
Jefferson Daily requested additional information from Oregon State Police about the circumstances leading up to the collision but had not received a response as of publication.
The Oregon State Police investigation remains ongoing.
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