Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash on Rogue River Highway

The victim called his family from Medford at 5:15 AM December 24th, advising them he was feeling ill and was on his way home. He had not been heard from since.

Vehicle after it was recovered from a deep ditch it crashed into about four miles south of Rogue River. Photo: Oregon State Police

(ROGUE RIVER, Ore.) - Police say a Grants Pass-area resident missing since December 24th was found deceased Saturday afternoon at the scene of a fatal traffic crash. The victim was found by family members near his vehicle that had gone off Rogue River Highway approximately 4 miles south of Rogue River.

Sergeant Mark A Byrd with Oregon State Police says that at approximately 4:40 PM, Oregon State Police troopers and local emergency personnel responded to Rogue River Highway regarding a report of a single vehicle off the highway.

"After arriving on scene, investigators determined the vehicle had been driven by a reported missing person who was deceased at the scene."

The 1995 Jeep Wrangler driven by 20-year old Joshua Isaac Ashbridge of Grants Pass, was southbound on Rogue River Highway when, for an unknown reason, it left the west side of the roadway and traveled into a deep ditch covered in brush. Mr Ashbridge was apparently not using safety restraints and was ejected from the vehicle.

Investigators confirmed Joshua Ashbridge was reported as a missing person to Grants Pass Department of Public Safety on December 24th.

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He reportedly had been in Medford and contacted his family at 5:15 AM, advising them he was feeling ill and was on his way home. He had not been heard from since.

Byrd says family members were driving along Rogue Valley Highway when they spotted the crashed vehicle and called 9-1-1.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Central Point Area Command office and Grants Pass work site are now completing the investigation.

Those troopers were assisted at the scene by ODOT, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office and the Rogue River Fire District.