Medford woman pleads guilty, sentenced to 10 years for fatal DUII crash that took the life of a well-known Bend chef
Triton Notary
MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ)– A Medford woman arrested after a DUII crash in Medford last fall that took the life of a well-known, long-time Bend chef, Jimilee “Jason” Thomas, pleaded guilty Wednesday to manslaughter and two other charges and was sentenced to a decade in prison.
Here’s the news release from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office:
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Cassie Cavagnaro (DOB 8/16/1988) pled guilty this morning to Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver to Injured Persons, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell sentenced Ms. Cavagnaro to a prison sentence of 10 years and her driver’s license was revoked. Additionally, given the egregiousness of Ms. Cavagnaro’s actions, Judge Cromwell ordered that Ms. Cavagnaro not be eligible for any reduction to her sentence.
These charges arose out of a serious vehicle-vs.-bicyclist crash on South Pacific Highway around3:30 PM on October 11, 2024.
The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team, which includes members of the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, responded to conduct the investigation.
The victim, Jimilee Thomas (DOB 10/7/1983), was pronounced deceased on scene.
Investigators determined multiple witnesses observed Ms. Cavagnaro huffing inhalants while driving, prior to hitting and killing Mr. Thomas. Some of those witnesses attempted to persuade Ms. Cavagnaro that it was unsafe for her to be driving a vehicle and to get off the road.
Ms. Cavagnaro ignored their concerns. They then called 911 and followed Ms. Cavagnaro while providing law enforcement with updates regarding her location. Unfortunately, Ms. Cavagnaro was unable to maintain her lane as she traveled down S. Pacific Highway, weaved into the bike lane and crashed into Mr. Thomas, killing him.
After crashing into Mr. Thomas, Ms. Cavagnaro drove across all lanes of travel on S. Pacific Highway and parked her vehicle in the far corner lot near Rogue Credit Union. She then attempted to walk away from the area.
When contacted, investigators noted multiple indicators of intoxication and observed a duster can near Ms. Cavagnaro’s driver’s seat that she was seen using to huff inhalants by witnesses prior to the collision with Mr. Thomas. Ms. Cavagnaro was taken into custody immediately.
The District Attorney’s Office consulted with Mr. Thomas’ surviving family members during plea negotiations, and they were supportive of this final resolution.
This case highlights the dangers of driving under the influence and the devastating, tragic consequences that can result. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) more than 10,000 people die each year in crashes caused by impaired drivers.
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office commends the work of the STAR team for their dedicated efforts in ensuring that Ms. Cavagnaro was held accountable.
This prosecution was handled by Senior DDA Matt Anderson and DDA Brannon Schwab.