A tragic incident occurred on Highway 99 in Jackson County, where a fatal crash claimed the life of a local man. On the afternoon of Monday, September 8, Oregon State Police were called to the scene of a single-vehicle incident near milepost 12. According to a report, Cody Austin Jenkins, a 26-year-old resident of Gold Hill, lost control of his Subaru Legacy, crossing the northbound lanes before breaking through a fence and plunging into the Rogue River.
The grim discovery came as authorities arrived to find the vehicle fully submerged, and initial observations confirmed that no one had managed to escape from the car following its entry into the water. The operator of the Subaru, Jenkins, was pronounced dead at the location. No other occupants were in the vehicle, simplifying what might otherwise have been a more complex rescue operation and subsequent investigation.
Efforts to manage the incident were comprehensive, with the Jackson County Search and Rescue Team taking a pivotal role in retrieving the vehicle from the treacherous river conditions. Their prompt response was critical in the early stages of the unfolding event. Assisting the Oregon State Police were the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Rogue River Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), all contributing to the operation's swift and thorough handling.
