August 7, 2023 10:00 a.m. 

The driver was jailed after wrong way freeway driving early Saturday.

An Oregon State Police report said at 2:00 a.m. numerous callers said a pickup was traveling on Interstate Five northbound in the southbound lane near the Glendale exit. The vehicle nearly struck two Douglas County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles head on. Deputies were finally able to stop the vehicle eighteen miles later, about a mile south of Canyonville.

The driver, 38-year old Levi Wharton, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, attempting to elude police in a vehicle, four counts of recklessly endangering another person and two counts of reckless driving. Wharton was detained without bail but was released on Monday. A passenger was transported to the Adapt Sobering Center. The pickup was towed away.