Tragedy struck early Sunday morning on Interstate 5 in Linn County when a Toyota Camry, carrying two occupants, was rear-ended by a Lexus GS, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The crash occurred just after 2 a.m. near milepost 222, as reported by KPTV. 53-year-old Scott Alan Palmer, who was a passenger in the Camry, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Camry's driver, 37-year-old Justin Michael Palmer, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital. The extent of his injuries has not been disclosed; however, the driver of the Lexus, 23-year-old Isael Garcia from Woodburn, sustained minor injuries in the collision. Following the incident, Garcia was arrested and charged with DUII, assault, and manslaughter, according to KVAL.
Traffic on Interstate 5 was heavily disrupted for approximately six hours as authorities conducted their on-scene investigation. The Oregon State Police, with assistance from the Linn County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation, worked together to manage the scene and commence the preliminary investigation into the crash. Statesman Journal reports that the highway has since reopened.
