Medford Area Teens Killed in Single Vehicle Crash Early Tuesday

Police from throughout Oregon are hoping that young drivers learn from tragedies like this.

In 2004, drivers age 19 and under were involved in fatal and injury crashes at almost twice the rate of the population as a whole This is the BWM 740 from the fatal crash Photo: Oregon State Police

(SALEM) - Three Medford-area teenagers, graduates this year from South Medford High School, were killed early Tuesday morning when their vehicle lost control on Highway 238 near Ruch, crashed into a tree and came to rest upside down in the Applegate River. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation.

Police say that at approximately 12:15 AM, a 1994 BMW 740 four-door driven by 18-year old Kyle Charles Ross of Medford, was westbound on Highway 238 near milepost 27 at a high rate of speed negotiating a right-hand curve. Investigators say Ross lost control causing the car to travel off the north side of the highway and down an embankment where it struck a tree.

After impact, the car overturned and came to rest on its top in the Applegate River at the base of the embankment.

First responder emergency personnel pronounced Ross and the two passengers deceased at the scene.

The passengers are identified as 18-year old David John Bergin and 18-year old Jonathan Marshall Thibeault, both of Medford.

Police say it is not clear whether safety restraints were used by the driver and passengers.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Central Point Area Command are continuing the investigation.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

* Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading the cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds

* Nationally in 2003, teen drivers constituted only 6.3 percent of licensed drivers, but were involved in 13.6 percent of all highway fatal crashes

* Young drivers do only 20 percent of their driving at night, but over half the crash fatalities of adolescent drivers occur during nighttime hours

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation:

* In 2004, drivers age 19 and under were involved in fatal and injury crashes at almost twice the rate of the population as a whole

* In 2003, drivers age 19 and under, made up 5.69 percent of total drivers, but were responsible for 11.4 percent of driver errors

* Driving too fast for conditions was one of three most common errors for teen drivers

Additional information on youth driving safety is available on ODOT's website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/youthsafety.shtml