Medford,OR : Fleeing suspects crash on Highway 62 on January, Thursday 18th 2018

A midday pursuit through Medford Thursday ended with the airbags of a red 2017 Hyundai Accent deployed and two California men in custody.

Kenneth Anthony Perkins, 18, of Richmond, and Samuel Barreras Luna Jr., 21, of Vacaville, were arrested after causing a crash on Highway 62 that blocked eastbound traffic for an hour. No injuries were reported, according to Medford police Sgt. Geoff Kirkpatrick.

The crash ended close to where it started — near the north Medford Fred Meyer.

At 11:42 a.m., Perkins and Luna ran from Medford police after they allegedly tried to pick up pain medication from the Fred Meyer pharmacy using a forged prescription, police said.

A local physician had tipped police off about the suspects Wednesday, and Luna and Perkins had made attempts at other pharmacies throughout the morning.

The pair fled east on Highway 62 and blew a stoplight. Medford police did not pursue them because of safety concerns, but the pair were apprehended with the help of other agencies who had eyes on the car.

Police attempted to use spike strips, but the Hyundai managed to veer away from them.

An Oregon State Police trooper spotted the four-door sedan on Vilas Road and followed, but lost sight of the vehicle near Foothill Road. A Jackson County sheriff’s deputy spotted the car going north on Interstate 5 at Exit 30, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Julie Denney.

While headed east on Highway 62 again, the car apparently struck the front of a Toyota Prius at the Biddle Road intersection, removing the Prius’ front bumper and causing the Hyundai’s side-curtain airbags to deploy.

Source :
Fleeing suspects crash on Highway 62