27-Year-Old Medford Man Drowns While Kayaking In Agate Lake (Photo) - 08/18/25

JCSO Case 25-4391

 

RURAL EAGLE POINT, Ore. - Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) 911 Dispatch received a distress call Saturday, August 16 for a missing kayaker who disappeared into Agate Lake outside Eagle Point. The 911 call came in at 7:48 PM and reported a 27-year-old Medford man fell in the lake while kayaking without a life jacket. 

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Marine deputies responded with both Fire District 3 and Fire District 4. First responders searched the water until after 10 PM but were unable to locate the man. 

 

The next morning, Sunday, August 17, JCSO Marine units along with Search and Rescue (SAR) Dive Team members resumed the search. Klamath County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to assist.  At 7:34 AM SAR divers located the body of the missing man in the lake. Our condolences go to his family and friends. We will not be releasing the man’s name out of respect for his family’s privacy in this difficult time. There is no further information available for release.
 

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Double Fatality In Prospect Collision Under Investigation (Photo) - 08/02/25

Double Fatality in Prospect Collision Under Investigation

PROSPECT, OREGON – July 31, 2025 – JCSO Case # 25-4070

 

Two individuals were tragically killed last night when their disabled pickup truck was struck on Mill Creek Road in Prospect. The fatal collision, which occurred around 10:04 p.m., is now under investigation by the Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team.

 

The victims have been identified as 67-year-old Arthur Rowden and 51-year-old Gary Tate, both of Prospect. Both men were outside of a 1987 Toyota pickup, which was disabled and had its lights off in the eastbound lane of Mill Creek Road, when it was struck by a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by an 18-year-old Prospect resident. Sadly, both Mr. Rowden and Mr. Tate died at the scene.

 

Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO 911) received the initial crash report, dispatching Jackson County Sheriff's Deputies to investigate. Prospect Fire Department personnel were first on scene and confirmed the two-vehicle collision involved fatalities.

 

The surviving driver is cooperating with the investigation. At this time, investigators do not believe speed or impairment were factors in the crash, and no criminal charges have been filed.

 

Our deepest condolences are with the families and friends of those impacted by this tragic event. Next of kin have been notified.

 

The STAR Team is a multi-agency group of investigators comprised of personnel from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, Ashland Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.