Harry Smead Obituary, Death: California man killed in fatal I-5 crash near Ashland.
Harry Smead Obituary, Death – Around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oregon State Police responded to a fatal two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Jackson County, near Ashland. According to investigators, the crash involved a black Honda Civic driven by 68-year-old Terielizabeth Smead of Lemon Grove, California. While traveling northbound near milepost 4, the Honda veered out of its lane and collided with a Freightliner semi-truck and trailer. The truck was parked on the shoulder of the interstate at the time of the crash and was being operated by 30-year-old Shekib Hakimi of Carmichael, California.
The collision resulted in the death of one of the Honda’s passengers, identified as 74-year-old Harry Smead, also of Lemon Grove. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. The driver, Terielizabeth Smead, sustained serious injuries in the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The truck driver, Hakimi, was not injured.
The crash caused significant disruption to traffic, as the section of I-5 where the accident occurred was closed for about five hours while emergency crews conducted their on-site investigation and cleared the scene.
Multiple agencies assisted in the response and investigation, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Fire and Rescue, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Authorities have not yet released information regarding what may have caused the Honda Civic to leave its lane or whether any factors such as impairment, distraction, or road conditions played a role. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
This tragic crash serves as a reminder of the dangers of highway travel and the importance of staying alert, especially when traveling near parked or disabled vehicles on road shoulders. More information may be made available as the investigation progresses.
