Ashland, Ore. – Two Ashland High School students died early Sunday after a single-vehicle crash on East Nevada Street, prompting a multi-agency investigation.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 12:44 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, to the 1350 block of East Nevada Street for a reported crash. Emergency personnel located an Audi A6 that had struck a tree.
Investigators said five juveniles, all 17 years old, were inside the vehicle. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue conducted an extraction to remove the remaining occupants.
Mercy Flights transported four passengers to a local hospital with critical injuries. Authorities said one passenger later died. The three surviving occupants remain hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary findings indicate the vehicle was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed. Investigators believe the driver allegedly lost control while navigating a 90-degree curve, causing the car to leave the roadway and collide with a tree.
All five occupants were students at Ashland High School. School district officials confirmed grief counseling and regional crisis support teams are being made available to students and staff.
The case is being investigated by the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team, a multi-agency unit specializing in fatal and complex injury collisions.
For student drivers and families, the crash underscores the risks of high-speed travel on residential roadways.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook and support local independent news. Have a tip? Message us.
