... on February 11, there was a violent car accident in downtown Medford. An Ashland HS student driving at extremely high speeds with alleged police pursuit, ran a red light at the Riverside / Jackson intersection and collided with another vehicle, killing the other driver immediately and losing his own life shortly after the event. Passengers in both vehicles survived.
I did not immediately connect the name of the innocent crossing driver with anything... not until the following weekend when his photo was on the front page, did I recognize a former student.
Charles Bench had looked forward to taking Psychology at Phoenix High with Mark Wolfe, but Wolfe elected to go on sabbatical that year and Bench got me instead. He made it clear during the first week that I was not the teacher he expected, but that he was willing to stay in the class. At the end of the term, he thanked me for a great semester, indicating he was glad he got to take the class from me. Charles was taken from his wife and three children that night, senselessly.
Now the investigation goes forward. Jackson County has recused itself and Josephine County's DA is leading the effort. Today, the Mail Tribune sued for release of the transcripts of communication between the police vehicles and dispatch. Regardless of what they find, and if the 'blame' spreads from the intoxicated teen to share with the local police, the only fact that matters to me is someone who used to sit in my classroom is dead. He isn't the first. I hope he'll be the last.
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