A devastating multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 5 in the farming region of western Oregon tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals and injured four people on the afternoon of Thursday, May 18.
Officers from the Oregon State Police were quick to arrive at the crash site. According to their official statement, the crash happened around 2:05 pm in the northbound lanes of the interstate, approximately seven miles north of Albany city.
The police have confirmed the victims were Mexican farmworkers.
Details emerging from a report by the Albany Democrat-Herald indicate that the deadly accident involved a Ford Econoline passenger van carrying 11 people and two semi-trucks. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene with bodies shrouded in plastic strewn across a nearby field. Around 2:45 pm, a Life Flight helicopter was spotted departing from the crash scene.
The driver of the semi truck who crashed into the van, Lincoln Clayton Smith, 52, of North Highlands, California, was arrested on several charges including manslaughter and reckless driving, according to Oregon police. He was allegedly driving intoxicated.
To protect passersby from the distressing scene, authorities cloaked the mangled remains of the van with a blue tarp and put up a barrier close to one of the involved trucks.
A witness to the incident, Adrian Gonzalez, recounted to a news outlet that the van seemed to be extensively squashed between the two trucks, hinting at a severe collision.
Immediately after the accident, first responders and paramedics attended to the injured on the spot. For those needing critical medical care, two Life Flight helicopters were sent to airlift them to nearby medical facilities.
Following an extensive investigation and cleanup operation, the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 were re-opened to traffic by Thursday evening.
This tragic incident has profoundly impacted the community of Albany, nestled roughly 70 miles south of Portland, lying between Salem and Eugene.
In light of recent statistics from the Oregon Transportation Department, this accident adds to an already troubling record. The state has witnessed 159 fatalities from traffic accidents in 2023 alone, following a concerning count of 600 traffic-related deaths in the previous year, 2022. This grim figure underlines the urgent need for heightened traffic safety measures and stringent regulations on Oregon’s roads.
