Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg, IVFD Media Dept.)
A memorial service for an Illinois Valley mother and her young son, who died in the crash of a pickup truck, whose driver also died, was held Monday, Sept. 17 in Cave Junction.
The roll-over triple-fatal accident occurred Tuesday, Sept. 11 in the 1600 block of Happy Camp Road, just above Takilma, said Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). It was reported at 7:16 p.m.
Victims were identified as the driver, Alexander Gordon West, 27, whose last known address was 4905 Happy Camp Road; and his passengers, Wendy Ann Ingram, 33; and her son, James Ray Dodson Jr., 13, of 4905 Happy Camp Road, said JCSO. (See Obituaries on page 4).
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James was in the seventh grade at Lorna Byrne Middle School. Out of respect for the family, a scheduled open house at the school was postponed from Wednesday, Sept. 12 to Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The day after the accident, counselors were made available at the school for the boy’s classmates affected by his death.
Responding to the crash were JCSO, Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD), and American Medical Response (AMR). Ingram, who was partially ejected from the northbound 1965 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Best, was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle apparently rolled several times and was upside-down, said IVFD Chief Harry Rich.
Best, who had to be extricated by IVFD was taken by AMR to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg, IVFD MEdia Dept.)
The 13-year-old, who was ejected during the crash, also had to be extricated from the wreckage. He was at the rear of the vehicle near the undercarriage, and it was an extremely difficult extrication, Rich said, taking approximately 90 minutes. He was pronounced deceased while an AMR ambulance was transporting him to Three Rivers.
JCSO said that none of the three are believed to have been wearing safety belts. Investigators believe that “speed was a contributing factor,” plus “Best’s inability to maintain control of the vehicle.”
JCSO said that the pickup truck driven by Best “failed to negotiate a curve in the 1600 block of Happy Camp Road, drifted off the roadway, went up an embankment and struck a madrone tree before the vehicle rolled over and ejected Dodson.”
The fire chief said that the tree, which had a diameter of approximately 8 inches, was knocked over by the impact.
A Mercy Flights helicopter landed at Four Corners, but its services were not used.
The day after the accident, IVFD personnel underwent a post-trauma debriefing. AMR personnel who responded to the scene underwent a similar session on Thursday, Sept. 13.
JCSO is continuing investigation of the wreck.
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Besides the evening crash that claimed three lives, two other Illinois Valley residents died the same day.
Both were medical calls in rural Cave Junction. IVFD and AMR responded to both. In one of the cases, a Mercy Flights helo landed on the Junction Inn parking lot, but the patient was not transported.
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