August 18, 2005
Third spike strip stops fleeing driver
A Roseburg woman described by police as unstable was arrested early Wednesday following a chase from Medford to Ashland down Interstate 5.
A spike strip deployed by an Ashland police officer popped the front tires of Christine Williams pickup truck as she attempted to elude Medford police.
Medford officers were questioning Williams near the Rogue Valley Mall when she ran from two officers, got into the pickup, drove over a curb and a bush and led police on a chase south on
Interstate 5, said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran.
A mall security guard alerted police to a person acting suspiciously at 1601 N. Riverside Ave. at approximately 1:20 a.m. He said she was "delusional and speaking in a strange manner."
Moran said several Medford police officers were in pursuit of Williams as she traveled between 40 and 90 mph southbound on I-5, according to Moran. He said she avoided two spike strips deployed
by Medford police.
"I dont know how she avoided them at night," Moran said.
Williams hit a third spike strip, this one set up by Ashland police near milepost 19. With her front tires flattened, she drove south for about another mile and then veered into the northbound
lanes, still driving south. She then turned the truck off the highway to the east and it became stuck on a hillside.
"She attempted to go four-wheeling and got stuck," Moran said, noting that Ashland officers and Oregon State Police had closed the highway to protect other motorists.
Medford police then had to forcibly remove Williams from the truck to arrest her.
She was charged with attempting to elude an officer, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and failure to perform proper duties when involved in an accident.
She was being held Wednesday night at the Jackson County Jail.