Plea deal reached in vehicular homicide

Blain Lain, 19, of Medford will be sentenced on November 11 for charges relating to the September 26, 2023 crash that resulted in the death of one of the passengers and the paralyzation of another.

Lain was in court on Monday to accept a plea deal with District Attorney Kristi Tlusty, avoiding a trial.

At 2:55 p.m. on Sept. 26, law enforcement responded to a rollover crash near N2524 Oriole Dr. in the town of Medford. At the scene, they found the bodies of the vehicle’s three occupants in the field and a debris path that was over 100 yards long. Passenger Breanne Flint was killed in the crash and and Zack Mesun was left paralyzed due to injuries sustained from the crash.

According to the criminal complaint, Lain had detectible levels of a restricted substance in his blood at the time of the crash.

On January 24, Tlusty filed the following formal charges against Lain: Homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle - A class G Felony with possible penalty of up to $25,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison.

Knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing death — A class H felony with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and up to six years in prison.

Knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing great bodily harm — A class I felony with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and up to three years, six months in prison.

Homicide by vehicle - use of controlled substance — A class D felony with a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 and up to 25 years in prison.

Use of a vehicle with a controlled substance in blood causing great bodily harm — A class F felony with a penalty of a fine up to $25,000 and up to 12 years, six months in prison.

The criminal complaint was based on reports and investigation by Sgt. Nick Schuld and Det. Aemus Balsis of the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department. According to the complaint as Schuld was southbound on Oriole on the way to the scene he crossed a bridge and was driving uphill yet, when he noticed a patch of wet leaves in the roadway. Schuld noted this was the location where it appeared the vehicle began to skid and lose friction with the road surface.

See PLEA DEAL on page 16 “I saw tracks enter the west ditch. As I crested the hill, I saw a vehicle (minivan) in the west field, at rest on its right side, facing northwest. The debris field leading to the vehicle was easily over 100 yards long. I saw two human bodies lying among the debris field; it appeared they had been ejected,” the report states.

A Life360 application on the phone of victim Breanne Flint recorded the speed at the time of the crash at being 112 mph.