Published:Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:23 AM PDT
Serving the South Coast of Oregon

Crash with tree leads to chase
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:23 AM PDT

A Coos Bay woman jumped behind a tree Monday night to avoid being run over by a car. Police later arrested the driver on a drunken driving charge.

The incident unfolded at 8:10 p.m., when emergency crews responded a single-vehicle crash in which a car struck a tree near the intersection of North 16th Street and Underwood Avenue, according to a Coos Bay Police press release.

Police said a 1996 Honda Accord northbound on 16th Street narrowly missed a woman standing on the side of the road. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, took cover behind the same tree as the Honda collided with it. The driver ran from the scene and was pursued by paramedics. Officers later found the suspected driver, Jacob M. Baumgardner, 28, and took him to Bay Area Hospital for treatment, the release said.

A passenger, Lorelei A. Glatt, 23, of Myrtle Point also was injured in the accident and had to be extricated from the vehicle. She was taken to Bay Area Hospital, where she was in fair condition this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

After being released from the hospital, police arrested Baumgardner on charges of second-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, hit-and-run, second-degree criminal mischief, reckless endangering and a parole violation. He was taken to Coos County jail, where he being held without bail on the parole violation.


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