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Jared Nathanial Combs

Age : 26

Gender : Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 01/01/2023

Location : South Stage Road / Sunset Drive, near Highway 238

City : Medford/Jacksonville area

County : Jackson

State : Oregon

Agency : Jacksonville Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE:
Reported reckless driving.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/01/2023 at approximately 3:34 p.m., a Jacksonville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop against 26-year-old Jared Nathanial Combs after Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon received a report of a vehicle being driven recklessly in the 4600 block of Highway 238.
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Combs continued onto South Stage Road toward Medford. Police reported that his 2004 BMW 545i was traveling at excessive speed and moving across the roadway as the officer pursued him. Available reports do not identify the pursuing officer, provide the pursuit speed or distance, or indicate that police used stop sticks, a PIT maneuver or other forced-stop tactic.
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A short time after the pursuit began, Combs lost control near Sunset Drive. His BMW left the roadway and struck multiple trees at high speed.
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Emergency personnel extricated Combs from the wreckage. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other deaths or injuries were reported.
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The multiagency Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team investigated the crash, with the Medford Police Department serving as the lead investigative agency. Police initially said alcohol might have contributed to the crash based on officers' observations, but toxicology results were still pending when the initial reports were published.
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Later reporting established that Combs' driver's license was suspended and that he had three previous impaired-driving convictions. He also had a pending fourth DUII case at the time of his death. Those circumstances were not the stated reason the Jacksonville officer began the pursuit: police said the officer acted after the report of reckless driving.
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Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe declined to provide additional details about the pursuit and referred questions to Medford Police. Medford Police said the completed investigation would be forwarded to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office for review.

SOURCE LINKS :

Medford Police Department / FlashAlert — original police release and crash-scene photograph:
https://flashalert.net/id/MedfordPD/160212
Medford Alert News — pursuit and fatal crash report:
https://medfordalert.com/2023/01/03/fleeing-driver-dies-after-high-speed-crash-in-sw-medford/
Mail Tribune/Yahoo — identification, pursuit details and Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe response:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/driver-killed-jacksonville-area-crash-132300747.html
Mail Tribune/Yahoo — follow-up on Combs, vehicle, suspended license and prior DUII history:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/repeat-drunken-driver-died-doing-003500272.html
Memory Gardens Memorial Park & Mortuary — confirms full name, birth date and death date:
https://www.memorygardensmortuary.com/obituaries/nathanial-combs