SUTHERLIN, Ore. (KMTR) -- Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Division detectives arrested a 19-year old Sutherlin resident Thursday evening after following up on one of several tips related to the late November 2012 rock-throwing incident from an Interstate 5 overpass south of Rice Hill that injured two University of Oregon students. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may be pending.
According to Sergeant Andy Kenyon, on January 31, Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives arrested Mathew McKinney, age 19, from Sutherlin, following a meeting with detectives at the OSP Roseburg Area Command office. McKinney was lodged at the Douglas County Jail for the following charges:
- Assault in the Second Degree (class B felony)
- Throwing Object off an Overpass in the First Degree (class C felony)
- Reckless endangering Another Person (2 counts - class A misdemeanor)
- Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (class C felony)
- Assault in the Fourth Degree (class A misdemeanor)
On November 26, 2012 at 10:40 PM, a 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon driven by Molly Grabill, age 20, from Poway, California, was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 146. As the vehicle approached the Isadore Road overpass, which has cyclone fencing erected to prevent objects from falling onto the freeway, a rock described as larger than a baseball came down from the overpass, smashing through the driver's side windshield and hitting Grabill in the face.
The car's passenger, Chris Brewer, age 19, from Vista, California, grabbed the steering wheel to control the vehicle. He was unable to keep it under control as the vehicle traveled onto the shoulder and rolled on the freeway coming to rest facing the opposite direction.
Grabill was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield for treatment of facial injuries. Brewer was also transported and he was treated and released for injuries sustained in the traffic crash. Grabill was also released from the hospital two days after the incident. Both are University of Oregon students and members of the school's track & field team.
An arraignment will be pending in Douglas County Circuit Court and questions regarding a date and time should be directed to the District Attorney's Office.
OSP extends their gratitude to the many people who offered information during the course of the investigation to try and help solve this difficult case.
