December 2023
Page 7
S Lane & N Douglas Traffic Fatalities
Lane County SO patrol
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 2:59 p.m., in Lane County. The preliminary investigation
vehicles equipped with AEDs the vehicle Oregon
State Police responded to a two- indicated a gray Ford Explorer, operated by
crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 189, Justin Kazutaka Fabrick (33) of Eugene, was
LANE COUNTY -
Beginning
November 2023, patrol vehicles in
the Lane County Sheriff’s Office fleet
have been equipped with Automated
External Defibrillators, or AEDs. Lt.
Tom Speldrich of LCSO says, “For us to
have another tool to hopefully save a life
for somebody who might be in cardiac
arrest is just a win, it’s going to save
lives. These medical devices are very
expensive, they’re very expensive. It’s
something that a normal law enforcement
budget wouldn’t be able to cover.”
Arming patrol vehicles with the
defibrillators was a no-brainer for the
Sheriff’s Office, but it was not something
they could do on their own. A group
of community members, including
PeaceHealth, King Estate and Sierra
Pacific came together to foot the bill.
“Knowing now that we have equipped
the Lane County Sheriff’s Office with
AEDs, and their patrol vehicles means
that they’re going to be more rural
coverage for people who are further away
from medical services. It’s a difference
of saving lives,” said PeaceHealth
Riverbend RN, Megan.
The biggest impact of this addition
for LCSO, are the ways it will change
medical responses in the rural areas
across Lane County. Patrol cars in the
more remote areas of the county often
arrive before paramedics get to the
scene.
“Our city’s Creswell and Venita,
our contract groups and even the dune
patrol vehicle is going to have an AED,”
said Speldrich. With every patrol vehicle
now equipped with this life-saving tool,
Speldrich and the Sheriff’s Office believe
they are better set to serve Lane County
than ever before.
in Lane County. The preliminary investigation
indicated a northbound Kenworth commercial
motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Shawn L
Brown (49) of Eugene, slowed down for traffic
congestion due to a motor vehicle crash farther
up the interstate. A northbound Ford cargo van,
operated by Edward Norman Guidry (70) of
Cottage Grove, approached the slowed traffic at
highway speeds and rear-ended the semi-trailer.
The operator of the Ford van (Guidry) was
declared deceased at the scene. The operator of
the Kenworth (Brown) suffered minor injuries.
The highway was impacted for approximately
3 hours during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Lane County Sheriff’s
Office, South Lane Fire/EMS, and ODOT.
On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 5:
06 p.m., the Oregon State Police responded to a
two-vehicle crash on Hwy 58, near milepost 44,
North Douglas Fire and EMS
Acquires Rice Hill Property
North Douglas Fire and EMS has pur-
chased approximately two acres of property
along with buildings located in Rice Hill, the
property was a restaurant at one time.
Chief Brian Burke said State Senator
David Brock Smith was able to help acquire
Arson Suspect Arrested in
Sutherlin’s Tim’s Tree House Fire
SUTHERLIN, Ore. On Sunday October
29, 2023, at 7:06am, Sutherlin Fire
Department was dispatched to a report of
a possible structure fire in the area of W.
Central Ave and Grant Street. While SFD
apparatus were enroute, Fire Dispatch
advised of multiple 911 callers reporting
a working structure fire. A Sutherlin Fire
Department Fire Engine and Ladder
Truck arrived in the area approximately
2 minutes later to find heavy fire coming
from the rear warehouse at Tim’s Tree
House. Immediately the fire was upgraded
to a second alarm.
On scene firefighters were advised of
a possible victim inside the warehouse and
immediately switched into rescue mode,
however, fire crews were significantly
slowed due to heavy fire involvement. A
short time later it was discovered that the
report of a victim inside was inaccurate,
and firefighters switched to a defensive
strategy due to structural collapse risk. A
third alarm was called to bring in additional
firefighters and an additional ladder
truck for aerial water stream operations.
Sutherlin Firefighters were on scene for
approximately 12 hours as extensive
overhaul operations were necessary.
Sutherlin Fire Department responded
with two fire engines, one ladder truck,
two brush rigs and three chief/command
officers for a total of 22 Sutherlin
Firefighters. Fair Oaks Fire District,
Douglas County Fire District 2, Oakland
Fire District, Kellogg Fire District and
Roseburg Fire Department provided
Mutual Aid at the incident rounding
the incident up to approximately 40
firefighters. Additionally, Sutherlin Public
Works, Sutherlin Police Department,
Avista Gas, and Pacific Power assisted
on scene. No firefighters or civilians were
injured during the incident.
After an extensive investigation, 20-
year-old Airian Jacob Navin, a Sutherlin
resident, was suspected of intentionally
lighting the fire. On Sunday, November
5th, 2023 Navin was arrested and charged
with Arson in the First Degree and 3
counts of Recklessly Endangering Another
Person. Navin was lodged at the Douglas
County Jail. If anyone has any other
information regarding this incident, please
call the Sutherlin Police Department at
(541) 459-2211.
The structure was a floral shop, called
Tim’s Tree House Floral. The owner, Tim
Saunders has lived in Sutherlin for 24 years
and started his business with just $1,500 to
his name. He says he’s put everything into
his community and floral shop, so the
damage has been difficult to process. But
he also says that the community support
has been helpful.
Saunders said, “as I’ve been here over
the years, I’ve just tried to do whatever I
could. I’ve always tried to just stay neutral
and help whoever I can, as much as I can. I
just can’t believe that all of this has turned
into such great support.”
The floral shop is still up and running. An
account with Banner Bank in Sutherlin
is accepting donations to help the floral
shop.
traveling westbound when an eastbound black
Toyota Camry, operated by Isabel Macy Walth
(20) of Castro Valley (CA), attempted to pass in
the “no passing” zone and struck the Ford head-
on. The Toyota was traveling in the on-coming
(westbound) lane at the time of the collision. A
passenger in the Toyota, Kent Derek Walth (59)
of Castro Valley (CA), was declared deceased
while being transported to an area hospital.
The operator of the Toyota (Isabel Walth) and
passenger, Rozetta Kei Fan-Walth (62) of
Castro Valley (CA), were seriously injured and
transported to an area hospital. The operator of
the Ford (Fabrick) was seriously injured and
transported to an area hospital.The highway
was impacted for approximately 5 hours during
the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by
Oakridge Fire, Eugene Fire, Springfield Fire,
and ODOT.
funding for the purchase. The property,
where one of the district’s leased stations is
located, will secure the longevity of service
provided to the community. The following
Press Release is from ND Fire Chief Brian
Burke Jr.