Jackson County deputies rescue woman from burning car after attempting to elude officials
By: Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) deputies rescued a woman from a burning car Wednesday night, after she'd led them on a high speed chase.
JCSO says on Wednesday night, July 5, a deputy observed a suspect with felony warrants at the Chevron in White City. Officials say then the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the suspect drove off onto Antelope Road toward Table Rock Road in an attempt to elude authorities.
The Sheriff's Office says the deputy quickly terminated his pursuit because he'd identified the suspect as 30-year-old Mindy Alizabeth Harrison, of Shady Cove.
According to JCSO, after the deputy deactivated his lights and sirens, Harrison slowed down; allowing the deputy to keep her in view. During this time, other law enforcement began to converge in an attempt to get in front of Harrison and spike her tires. A short time later, the sheriff's office says a deputy parked at the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Leafwood Drive in Eagle Point and spotted Harrison before she accelerated away toward awaiting spike strips.
Harrison's car was successfully spiked by an Eagle Point Police Department (EPPD) officer who was at the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Rogue River. After Harrison was spiked, authorities says she still attempted to flee northbound on Rogue River Drive for about a mile on flattened tires until she lost control of her vehicle and ultimately drove into a ditch.
As deputies took Harrison into custody, the heat from the exposed wheels caught surrounding grass on fire before quickly spreading to the car. In a video provided by JCSO you can see just how quickly the fire grew in a matter of minutes.
JCSO says deputies were able to successfully rescue Harrison from her burning vehicle before taking her into custody without further incident.
Law enforcement at the scene then began to fight the fire with available fire extinguishers, slowing the fire's spread. Jackson County Fire District 3 firefighters soon arrived, extinguished the blaze, and stopped the further spread of the fire to nearby grass.
Harrison's car was completely destroyed by the fire and towed from the scene.
Harrison was booked and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for:
Attempting to elude police by vehicle
Reckless driving
Reckless endangering
Six arrest warrants