On January 26, 2018, at about 3 PM, an Oregon State Patrol Trooper responded to the report of possible vandalism to a mailbox in the 4400 block of Rogue River Highway just south of the City of Rogue River.
The trooper arrived on scene and noticed fresh skid marks and other evidence to suggest a vehicle had struck the mailbox, went down the embankment and into the Rogue River. There was no vehicle visible in the river and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded with a marine patrol boat. They quickly located a submerged vehicle approximately a quarter mile downstream. They also determined there was a deceased occupant inside the vehicle.
Due to the growing darkness, it was decided for safety to remove the vehicle in the morning. A trooper stayed on scene to ensure On January 27, 2018, at about 9 am crews removed the vehicle, a 1998 Subaru Legacy, from the river and identified the deceased driver as Melinda A Fluck, age 65, of Gold Hill.
Preliminary investigation appears Fluck was traveling southbound on Rogue River Highway when it appeared she drifted on the east shoulder, overcorrected and crossed both lanes and over the embankment into the river.
This is an ongoing investigation, more information will be released as it becomes available. Oregon State Patrol was also assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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