Traffic Accident at 6th and East Main Claims Life of Motorcyclist, Driver Charged with Manslaughter

On Thursday, August 9, 2018 at approximately 10:06 pm, officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to a traffic collision at South 6th Street near E. Main.  Officers arrived on scene and determined Brenda Ann Tobin was driving a Ford F350 east on South 6th Street and turned left, just east of E. Main Street directly in the path of two motorcycles approaching from the opposite direction.

One of the motorcycles, operated by Terry R. Maxwell, struck the right rear side of Ms. Tobin's vehicle and caught fire from the impact.  Mr. Maxwell died as a result of the collision.  A passenger on Mr. Maxwell’s motorcycle, Amanda L. Harris, was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the roadway, causing major injuries.  Ms. Harris was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center and later to Saint Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon.

The second motorcycle, operated by Kendall Kelly, struck the rear of Mr. Maxwell's motorcycle, causing him to lose control and crash.  Mr. Kelley and a passenger on his motorcycle, Justina Leann Gomez, were transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Ms. Tobin, and her three passengers were uninjured.

Officers developed probable cause to believe Ms. Tobin was driving under the influence of intoxicants.  Officers applied for, and were granted, a search warrant from the Klamath County Circuit Court to obtain evidence of the crime of DUII.  Ms. Tobin was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center where evidence was seized.  Ms. Tobin was later lodged at the Klamath County Jail and charges of Manslaughter I, Assault I, Assault III x 2, Reckless Endangerment x 3, and DUII.

Victims:
Maxwell, Terry R., DOB: 10-25-1980, Bonanza Resident
Harris, Amanda L., DOB: 10-09-1994, Klamath Falls Resident
Kelly, Kendall, DOB: 12-15-1976, Henderson, Nevada Resident
Gomez, Justina L., DOB: 06-21-1979, Bonanza Resident

Arrested: Tobin, Brenda A., DOB: 08-06-1972, Klamath Falls Resident
Charges: Manslaughter I (Class A Felony), Assault I (Class A Felony), Assault III x 2 (Class C Felony), Reckless Endangerment x 3 (Class A Misdemeanor), DUII (Class A Misdemeanor)

Press release provided from the Klamath Falls City Police Department.