California man faces charges in fatal crash that killed 7 migrant farm workers
By Accident.NEWS
Publish Date: May 19, 2023
six people in the van were declared dead at the scene, and another person died after being rushed by helicopter to the hospital. Four more people in the van were injured and taken by ambulance to medical care.
A California man has been charged with seven counts of second-degree manslaughter and three counts of third-degree assault following a fatal crash on Interstate 5 in Marion County, Oregon. The accident occurred on Thursday afternoon when Lincoln Clayton Smith, 52, was driving a semi-truck with a livestock trailer northbound on I-5. According to police reports, the vehicle "left the roadway" near Santiam Rest Area and collided with a Ford passenger van carrying eleven people before hitting another parked semi.
The victims were all migrant farm workers who were traveling together in the van. Six people died at the scene while one person passed away after being airlifted to hospital. Four others sustained injuries and were taken by ambulance for medical care.
Smith was arrested after receiving medical evaluation and is now being held at Marion County Jail without bail. His charges include driving under the influence, reckless driving, as well as drug-related offenses since he admitted to using speed just before the incident occurred.
During his first court appearance on Friday, prosecutors revealed that Smith had been found with methamphetamines in his possession and had an extensive criminal record consisting of nine past convictions from seventeen arrests.
Detectives are still investigating this tragic event which claimed seven lives and left four others injured. Smith's next court appearance is scheduled for May 30th.
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Tags: Fatality, Truck, Oregon, DUI, Carcrash, Fatalaccident, Portland, Recklessdriving, Marion County, Migrantworkers, Manslaughter
Incident at a Glance
- Parties Involved:
- migrant farm workers
- Vehicles:
- semi, Ford passenger van, parked semi
- Fatality:
- YES
- State:
- Oregon
- City:
- Marion County
- Location:
- Interstate 5 near the Santiam Rest Area
- Date of Incident:
- 2021-05-20
- Time of Incident:
- 2 p.m.
Interstate 5 near the Santiam Rest Area
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