Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:00 am
Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into a fatal traffic crash Friday morning on Highway 51 about one mile south of the Highway 22 junction west of Salem.
Three vehicles were involved and two people died. All names except the deceased passenger's name are being released.
OSP provided this account:
At about 6:45 a.m., a 2002 Nissan Sentra driven by Victor Ramos-Torres, 20, of Independence, was southbound on Highway 51 near milepost 1. A witness told investigators the Nissan was attempting to pass another vehicle in foggy conditions when it encountered a northbound 2004 Ford F150 pickup.
The Nissan lost control and slid broadside into the northbound lane where it was struck in the driver's side by the pickup.
The Nissan subsequently caught fire and both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased male passenger has not been positively identified. Both were believed to be using safety restraints.
The impact caused a canopy on the pickup to eject into the air and crash into the windshield of a southbound 1999 Honda Accord driven by Jeronimo Calderon-Aguilar, 25, of Salem.
The driver of the Ford pickup, Norman Ray Collins, 56, of Monmouth, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Salem Hospital.
Calderon-Aguilar was using safety restrains and received minor injuries. He was also transported to Salem Hospital.
Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation. ODOT, Polk County Fire District 1 and Salem Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Highway 51 was closed at the scene for approximately five hours. It reopened at 11:20 a.m.