Michele Lauritzen, 49, killed in 5-car pileup in southern Oregon near Rogue River

Modified Date:

Mon, 04/20/2015 - 4:01pm

Accident Date:

Monday, September 8, 2014

Chain-reaction crash in work zone on I-5 in southern Oregon kills woman

Traffic was moving slowly about 5:20 p.m. along southbound I-5 for a lane closure in a work zone when a Ford Escape SUV failed to slow down and crashed into the back of an Oldsmobile Cutlass about two miles south of Rogue River, police said.

The Oldsmobile then crashed into the back of a Hyundai Sante Fe SUV, police said. A Subaru Forrester and a Dodge Neon also were involved in the crash.

Rogue River Woman Dies in Crash

Michele Lauritzen, 49 of Rogue River, was a passenger in the Oldsmobile and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was using her seat belt. Kirk was transported by Mercy Flights to Rogue Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Victim Named In Fatal I-5 Crash Near Rogue River

OSP said at about 5:20 p.m., five vehicles were merging slowly into the right line from the left lane due to a construction-related lane closure. Police said a Ford Escape driven by 31-year-old Steven Coleman of Central Point failed to slow down and crashed into the back of the Cutlass.

Michele Lauritzen died at the scene, police said. The crash is still under investigation.

Type: Car Accident

Topics:

Pileup

People Involved:

Michele Lauritzen

Steven Coleman

Gerald Kirk

Marie Murphy

Roadway:

I-5

City:

Rogue River, OR

County:

Jackson County, OR

Area:

Medford-Klamath Falls, OR