A fatal accident shut down parts of Highway 22E after a driver veered off the road and collided with a tree, Salem Police reported. The incident, which happened near Milepost 4, was attended by officers who attempted to save the male driver's life, though he was ultimately pronounced dead at the crash site.
The City of Salem's press release relayed that the preliminary investigation found the vehicle crossing the eastbound on-ramp before traveling through a landscaped area where it struck a tree, the man was the only person in the car at the time of the accident. His identity has yet to be made public as authorities work on notifying his family.
Consequently, the aftermath of the crash disrupted traffic flow, with eastbound lanes of the highway being narrowed down to a single lane; the eastbound on-ramp at Gaffin RD SE remained closed for about three hours as the Salem Police Traffic Team labored at the scene.
The cause of the crash is still under scrutiny by investigators, who have yet to release further details surrounding the circumstances of the event. More information will unfold as the investigation continues.
