Glendale Woman Jailed Following 20-Mile Wrong-Way Drive on I-5 Near Canyonville

A Glendale woman was lodged Saturday morning after being treated at a hospital following an early Saturday morning incident in which she drove nearly 20 miles the wrong way on Interstate 5 between Glendale and Canyonville.  Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers and Douglas County sheriff deputies were able to get her vehicle stopped using spike strips after closing the southbound lanes at two locations.

According to OSP Sergeant Steve Mitchell, on June 13, 2009 at 1:46 a.m. OSP Southern Command Center dispatch received a report of a traffic crash southbound Interstate 5 near milepost 79 near the Douglas and Josephine County line.  Shortly after the report, OSP Dispatch received another call of a wrong way driver traveling northbound in the southbound lanes near milepost 80.

OSP troopers from Roseburg and Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the area to attempt to intercept the wrong way vehicle.  Continuous reports called into OSP dispatch advised the wrong way vehicle was continuing northbound in the southbound lanes heading towards Canyon Mountain south of Canyonville.

Troopers and deputies closed the southbound lanes at milepost 98 and at milepost 95 to prevent drivers from colliding with the wrong way vehicle.  Officers with overhead emergency lights activated to attract the wrong way driver's attention were standing by at milepost 95 when they spotted the wrong way vehicle approaching their road closure at 2:03 a.m.  Instead of stopping for the officers and their positioned patrol vehicles the driver continued past them, so spike strips were quickly deployed successfully deflating both left side tires.

The wrong way driver continued northbound in the southbound lanes for approximately two miles until it came to a controlled stop on the freeway shoulder near milepost 97.  The female driver, later identified as KARENA GRIM, age 35, from Glendale, fled into nearby brush and hid.  OSP troopers found her hiding a short distance away from her stopped red 1996 Pontiac Grand Am.

Officers found a seriously injured male passenger lying on the ground outside of the Pontiac from injuries believed sustained in the crash near milepost 79.  GLENN FULP, age 55, from Wolf Creek, was initially treated at the scene by Canyonville Fire Department personnel.  FULP and GRIM where both transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg.

Following treatment at Mercy Medical Center for her injuries, GRIM was lodged at the Douglas County Jail for DUII, Reckless Driving, Assault in the Fourth Degree and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

OSP troopers from the Roseburg Area Command office are continuing the investigation.