Willamette Valley News, Monday 5/16 – Fatal Crash On Hwy 20 Near Sweet Home, Another Out of Control House Party in Eugene

The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com

Monday, May 16, 2022

Willamette Valley Weather

Fatal Crash On Hwy 20 Near Sweet Home

A motor vehicle crash on Highway 20 near Liberty Road took the lives of two people and left two others critically injured.

Oregon State Police said the crash happened around 4:45 p.m. Saturday near milepost 23

OSP says investigation revealed an eastbound red Mazda 3 driven Robert Prettyman, 33, of Brownsville, swerved across all lanes of traffic onto the westbound shoulder and then swerved back into the eastbound lanes.

Upon reaching the eastbound lanes, the car collided head-on with a silver Nissan Versa driven by Carl Curtis,79, of Huntington Beach, Calif., that was attempting to avoid the Mazda.

Prettyman was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A four-year old child that was a passenger in Prettyman’s car was transported with critical injuries, OSP said.

Curtis and his passenger, Yvonne Levy, 73, also of Huntington Beach, sustained fatal injuries and were both pronounced deceased.

Hwy 20 was closed for approximately four hours for OSP reconstructions to investigate. “Impairment is being investigated as a contributing factor in the collision,” OSP said.

OSP was assisted by Sweet Home Fire, Linn County Sheriff’s Office and ODOT.

Another Out of Control House Party in Eugene

Another large out-of-control party brought Eugene police to a house party and ended with 64 people being either cited or arrested for the 3rd weekend in recent weeks.

The party at 1915 Hilyard Street was deemed an “unruly gathering” at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. About 100 people were there at the time when police arrived and officials said they “received varying levels of cooperation” from the partiers and the tenants.

Three glass bottles were tossed from that yard into the backyard of another home, authorities said.

Throughout the night, people from an upper level apartment near 18th and Patterson threw objects — including eggs — at Eugene police cars on patrol.

The bulk of those cited were in their 20s. A few 19-year-olds were included. One was 46 and two people were in their 50s, officials said. Police arrested a 21-year-old for prohibited noise and unruly gathering.

Thirteen others were cited for noise violations and 50 were cited for open containers. Another 25 were cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol and urinating in public and 4 more for unruly gathering. More citations are expected, police said.

MORE INFO on EPD Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=374454928059940&set=a.221914853313949

Eugene Police Search Warrant Uncovers  Drugs And Guns

On May 13, 2022, at 3:53 a.m., Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant at 4203 Royal Avenue and another location in the north River Road area related to weapons and narcotics sales/possession. Firearms and felony amounts of heroin and cocaine, cash, and packaging material were seized.

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Kenneth Wayne Riley, age 41, was arrested and charged as follows: Two counts of Felon in Possession of a FirearmUnlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance Heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance Heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance Methamphetamines within 1,000 feet of a school, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance Cocaine (Commercial Drug Offense/Felony)

Alexandria Crystal Rodriguez, age 33, was arrested for warrants unrelated to the service of the search warrant. Eugene Police Property Crimes detectives, SWAT, Crisis Negotiation Team, and Drone Team assisted with the service of the search warrant. Case 22-06549

Counterfeit at-home COVID-19 tests are circulating throughout the United States. Counterfeit tests are not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may not function properly.At this time, the FDA has identified two counterfeit tests that are made to look a lot like Flowflex COVID-19 Test Kits and iHealth Antigen Rapid Test Kits. (iHealth tests distributed by Oregon Health Authority are NOT counterfeit.)

Per FDA, two counterfeit tests made to look like Flowflex COVID-19 Test Kits and iHealth Antigen Rapid Test Kits. OHA distributed iHealth tests are NOT counterfeit. Counterfeit signs: poor print quality of text or images, missing information on outside box label such as lot number, expiration date, barcode/QR code, grammar or spelling errors on product label and kit components that don't match box description.

For examples of counterfeit at-home COVID-19 tests, what to do if you have one and other testing resources, visit http://ow.ly/cZtL50J82sf.Before using an at-home COVID-19 test, make sure it’s on the FDA’s list of authorized at-home tests: http://ow.ly/l1W950J82sgYou can also order free COVID-19 tests directly from the federal government which are not counterfeit: http://ow.ly/n64n50J82se

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U.S. Marshals Capture Oregon Escaped Prisoner in Nevada

U.S. Marshals say a 38-year-old fugitive that escaped from a Federal Prison camp in Sheridan at the end of April was captured Friday, May 13 in Nevada.

Courtesy Carson City Sheriff

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong states that Andrew Cain Kristovich was staying in a tent on a property, that ironically was only a 100 yards from a prison. Kristovich was armed with an AR and five magazines, but he surrendered when he saw his tent surrounded by deputies.

After escaping the FCI Prison Camp in Sheridan on April 25, Kristovich traveled to an ex-girlfriend’s house in Clark County, WA, where he allegedly assaulted and raped her. He then fled with her debit card, cell phone and car. Kristovich told deputies in Carson City he had driven to Nevada in a stolen car, but authorities have not located it.
Originally, Kristovich was arrested in 2018 for manufacturing ghost AK-47s for a Mexican drug cartel. He was sent to the minimum security prison he escaped from, because it was his first offense.

Important Election Information

  • May 17, 2022 – County Clerk’s office open 7 am – 8 pm. Official dropsites open until 8 pm, for minimum of 8 hours. (Primary Election)
  • May 17, 2022 – Last day to file write-in declaration or write-in nomination for precinct committeeperson. Must be filed no later than 8 pm. (Primary Election)
  • May 17, 2022 – Last day for voter to return ballot. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by election day. Ballots deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8 pm on election day. (May Election)

MORE INFO: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/election-information.aspx

10-Year-Old Girl Struck and Killed By Motorist In Klamath Falls

A 10-year-old girl was struck and killed by a motorist on Friday afternoon in the city of Klamath Falls. Just after 4pm, emergency personnel responded to the area of North 3rd and McKinley street, where a vehicle had struck a pedestrian.

Upon arrival of medical teams, it was determined the victim was not breathing and CPR was administered. She
was then transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center. Unfortunately, after intensive efforts by emergency room personnel, the victim was pronounced deceased.

The driver of the vehicle in the crash remained on scene and was fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation of the incident. Anyone with information or those that may have witnessed the crash are asked to call the Klamath Falls Police department at 541-883-The victim’s name is Katie Fridenfelt. She was a student at Conger Elementary.

Governor Declares Drought In Douglas County Adding It To 15 Of Oregon’s 36 Counties On Drought List

Governor Brown declared a drought in Douglas County on Friday. Now 15 of the state’s 36 counties are subject to active drought declarations.

Brown included Douglas in a drought declaration Friday along with Baker and Wallowa counties in northeastern Oregon and Wheeler County.

“Drought, severe weather conditions, and the upcoming fire season pose significant threats to the local economy, agriculture and livestock, natural resources, and recreation in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties,” according to the governor’s office. “Governor Brown’s drought declaration unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools for water users, including assistance to local water users. Drought declarations also allow the Water Resources Department to expedite review processes and reduce fee schedules. Declarations are intended to be short-term emergency authorizations to address water supply challenges.”

MORE INFO: Oregon Water Resources Department Public Declaration Status Report

First Meeting Of The Task Force On Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants And Illegal Cannabis Production in Oregon

Officials from all over the state came together Thursday for the very first meeting of the Task Force on Cannabis-Derived Intoxicants and Illegal Cannabis Production. The goal of the task force is to improve Oregon’s cannabis and hemp markets while keeping the public and environment safe and illegal growers held accountable. The meeting took place over Microsoft Teams.

During the meeting, the Oregon State Police, local cannabis and hemp growers, agriculture scientists, state representatives and more voiced their concerns about illegal marijuana operations in Oregon. Representative Pam
Marsh was elected Chair and Representative Lily Morgan was elected Co-Chair.

Illegal marijuana is a significant problem in southern Oregon, according to police. Sergeant Tyler Bechtel with OSP shared his concerns during Thursday’s task force meeting.  “There is a massive problem in southern Oregon,” Bechtel said.

Other issues discussed during the meeting included labor trafficking, water, and environmental impacts, cross pollinization, and protecting legal growers and operations. 

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Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect

The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/

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