Officers from the Grants Pass Police Department were dispatched to a report of a vehicle crash in the Wal-Mart parking lot late Saturday evening, April 29th after multiple vehicles and a pedestrian were reported to have been hit by the suspect’s vehicle before it came to a stop due to damage, just after 10:00pm Saturday evening.
It was determined upon arrival by officers, that a vehicle, driven by 53 year old Tanya Allen, had been parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot prior to the crash.
After having a conversation with another person in the vehicle, Allen accelerated rapidly through the parking lot striking other vehicles and after hitting those cars, Allen continued to drive recklessly through the lot at a high rate of speed.
The occupants of the vehicle that was struck by Allen were transported to Three Rivers Medical center for evaluation and treatment. 65 year old Kenneth Nickerson, was outside of his vehicle in the parking lot when he was struck by Allen’s vehicle. Nickerson was not responsive to resuscitative efforts by officers and emergency medical personnel and was ultimately pronounced deceased while on scene.
53 year old Tanya Allen was transported to Three Rivers Medical center for medical evaluation and subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Manslaughter, DUII, and Reckless Driving. Additional charges are pending further investigation.
